Barcelona’s defeat in the 2019 Champions League final against Olympique Lyonnais it was a stimulus for the azulgrana 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 for the first time that trophy that is 60 centimeters high, weighs ten kilos and is made of sterling silver. But the wound was still open, there was a pending account: beat Lyon and close the circle, an opportunity that you can take advantage of this Saturday (7:00 p.m.) in Turin.
Eight teams have managed to inscribe their name in the competition’s list of winners to date and only three have managed to retain 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 being 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 achievingtwo world records for attendance at a match, has chosen in a certain way in the Gallic locker 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,” he said. Ada Hegerberg in an interview in L’Equipe. And they are right, eight finals and seven titles in the second decade of the century endorse them. And they want to feel again almighty. “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, she only has in the infirmary Cata Coll, Jana Fernández and Bruna Vilamala; Lyon, meanwhile, has the absence of Jennifer Marozsainjured from the crusader, and the doubt of Salma Bachawho yesterday withdrew from official training with an obvious limp.
A game of great duels
As far as proper names are concerned, there are various duels to take into account: in goal between two of the goalkeepers with the fewest goals, Cloths (7) and Endler (6); the top scorer among Alexia (10) and Macario (7); the of assistants in between Rolfö (6) and Bacha (8); the one of sprinters between Cascarino (31.4 km/h) and Oshoala (31.0 km/h); the one of corner throwers between Hansen (31) and Bacha (46)…
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” , He says Aitana Bonmatí.
