On Saturday, Barça qualified for their fourth Champions League final in a row, the fifth in six years, by overcoming an unimaginative but eye-catching Chelsea team (2-0, 0-1 at ‘go). Impressive figures, but still far from those displayed by the other finalist, Olympique Lyonnais and its 11 finals over the last 15 editions.
In addition, the French remain the kryptonite of an FC Barcelona team defeated during the only 4 official confrontations between the two clubs, and in particular during the last two European finals, in 2019 (4-1), and more recently in 2022 in Turin (3-1).
But over the past two years, a lot of things have changed. Last season, the Catalans won the C1 for the second time in their history (3-2 against Wolfsburg). Above all, nine players became world champions with Spain in 2023. Seven are still there (Cata Coll, Irene Paredes, Ona Battle, Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo, Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey) and largely form the backbone of a formation that is still largely sovereign on the national scene. A capital of confidence which could prove invaluable against Fenottes.
Undisputed domination in Spain
Under the orders of Jonatan Giraldez, whose departure next season for the Washington Spirit has already been made official, the Blaugrana continue to lead a train that no one can follow in Liga F since 2019-2020. This season, the Catalans are undefeated in the Championship (23 wins, 1 draw) and display a statistics sheet symbol of their domination with 106 goals scored and 8 conceded.
A control which contrasts with the difficulties encountered against Chelsea in the semi-finals. But led by Bonmati, Ballon d’Or France Football in title, still as dominant in midfield (5 goals in the Champions League this season), Barça did not fall into the Blues’ trap and was able to respond physically, even when pushed. It will undoubtedly be necessary to show the same response to overcome the undisputed champions of the competition: the Lyonnaises have only lost twice in the final.
