Barcelona’s defeat in the 2019 Champions League final against Olympique Lyonnais was a boost for the Barça team in its intention to grow and become the best team in Europe. Fifteen games and two seasons later they had achieved their goal by winning that trophy for the first time, which is 60 centimeters high, weighs ten kilos and is made of sterling silver.
But the wound was still open, they must beat Lyon and close the circle, an opportunity that they can take advantage of this Saturday (7:00 p.m.) in Turin.
Eight teams have managed to inscribe their name on the competition’s list of winners to date and only three have managed to defend their title: Umeå, Olympique Lyonnais and Wolfsburg. Barcelona wants to join this select club by putting one more pike in Turin. The azulgrana reach the last episode of the continental book as the team that dominates most of the statistics: goals (37), possession (66.3%), passing accuracy (88.7%), scoring chances (284). .. being the team to beat.
Pique in the Gallic locker room
The praise that Barcelona has earned for its numbers, style of play and even for achieving two world records for attendance at a match, has stung in a certain way in the French dressing room, where the constellation of stars have been overshadowed by the phenomenon culé . “There was also football before Barcelona and it was played here for years,” Ada Hegerberg told L’Equipe in an interview. And they are right, eight finals and seven titles in the second decade of the century guarantee them. And they want to feel almighty again. “In Lyon we know how difficult it is to win a title again after having won the first: we have done it five times in a row. We have to win again to regain our place in world football. We have the chance to do it this season.” the Norwegian said.
In terms of sport, the two best squads on the continent are measured and, probably, two elevens with international starters in their respective teams. Barcelona, with Lieke Martens recovered, only has Cata Coll, Jana Fernández and Bruna Vilamala in nursing; Lyon, for its part, has the absence of Dzsenifer Marozsán, injured from the crusader, and the doubt of Salma Bacha, who yesterday withdrew from official training with an obvious limp.
Regarding names, there are several duels to consider:
In the net between the two goalkeepers with the fewest goals, Banos (7) and Endler (6);
The scorer is between Alexia (10) and Macario (7);
my assistants between Rulfo (6) and Pasha (8);
sprinters Ben Cascarino (31.4 km/h) and Oshoala (31.0 km/h);
Throwing corners between Hansen (31) and Pasha (46) …
Although it is often said in football that every match is a different story, it is impossible to leave memories of 2019 aside. “We would like there to be a rematch, but we are not focused on that, we want to win because we want to be the best,” says Aitana Bonmatti.
Although in football it is often said that each game is a different story, it is impossible to put aside the memories of 2019. “We would like there to be a rematch, but we don’t focus on that, we want to win because we want to be the best” says Aitana Bonmatí.
