Third time lucky?

Two years ago, the Barça Women came agonisingly close to winning the UEFA Women's Champions League for the second time. But just as had happened when they reached the final for the first time ever in 2019, they were beaten by Olimpique Lyon. Now, in 2024, the Catalan and French sides are set to meet in the final for the third time. Barça will be chasing their third continental title. Lyon, who have won this trophy more times than anyone, will be looking for their ninth.

Disappointment in Turin

Two years ago, Jonatan Giráldez went to Italy with a team that has just completed the domestic treble, including a perfect winning record in the league. Lyon had also been utterly invincible in their own tournaments, and both sides had reached the Champions after just one defeat (Barça to Wolfsburg in one leg of the semi-finals, and Lyon to Juventus in the group stage).

But Barça were stunned by Lyon's first-half display at the the Allianz Stadium, goals from Amandine Henry, Ada Hegerberg and Catarina Macário leaving them with a mountain to climb. Alexia did manage to pull one back, but it wasn't enough. Jenni Hermoso is the only starter that day who is no longer in the Barça squad, while Lyon have lost just three: Henry (now at the Utah Royals), Macário (Chelsea) and Melvine Malard (on loan to Manchester United).

Hungarian woe

Going back to that earlier meeting in 2019, that was when Lluís Cortés was still in charge. Barça had won every game bar one en route to the final, an unexpected reverse in the first leg against BIIK of Kazakhstan in the round of 32. That was actually the only game in which they had conceded  a goal. Lyon arrived unbeaten, and had won every game in often remarkably comfortable fashion.

Ada Hegerberg was also on target in that game. No fewer than three times. Dzsenifer Marozsán had scored the opener, and trailing 4-0, there was little chance of Barça getting back into the game, and Oshoala's goal was merely anecdotal. Six of the players that started that day are still at Barça (Alexia, Aitana, Paños, Mapi, Torrejón and Mariona). Andrea Pereira is now at America in Mexico, Martens at PSG, Vicky Losada at Brighton, Leila at Manchester City and Toni Duggan at Everton. As for Lyon, their coach that day, Reynald Pedros, is now in charge of the Moroccan national team, Jess Fishlock has moved to the Seattle Reign and Shanice van de Sanden is at Liverpool.