Women’s Champions League final: Barcelona v Lyon preview

Holders Barcelona face record eight-time winners Lyon in Saturday’s Women’s Champions League final at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, in a meeting of Europe’s titans.

For Barcelona, this is the chance to retain their crown and become only the third club to win the competition three times.

For Lyon, it is the opportunity to add to their dominance on the European stage as Sonia Bompastor’s side chase a ninth title.

Barcelona ended Chelsea’s hopes in the last four while Lyon beat French rivals Paris St-Germain to reach the final.

It is a fourth straight final and fifth in six years for Barca, while Lyon are in the final for an 11th time – though they were knocked out by Chelsea in the quarter-finals last year.

“It’s Lyon and their dynasty meeting the title holders,” French journalist Sara Menai told BBC Sport.

“It’s exciting to see Lyon in the final again and to see how they can compete against their heirs, in a sense.

“They have been so dominant but this is slowly coming to an end. It’s the old big name against the team that is rising bit-by-bit.”

Barcelona and Lyon have met four times previously in the Women’s Champions League, with the French side coming out on top each time.

They beat the Catalans in the final in 2019 and 2022, as well as winning both quarter-final legs in 2018, but Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Sport Barca are a different beast this time.

“Barcelona haven’t managed to beat Lyon yet, but let’s not compare this final to the one in 2022,” he said.

“They have a stronger bench, the players that have arrived have made a difference and the ones that were there have come through the ranks to become leaders.

“They are becoming stronger, much more difficult to beat. You would say on paper they are slight favourites, but Lyon are great competitors.”