Barcelona take on Lyon in ‘dream’ Women’s Champions League Final
The Catalans are making their first appearance in the final of Europe’s top competition on Saturday
Saturday sees FC Barcelona take on Olympique Lyonnais for Europe’s most coveted crown in the Champions League final in Budapest.
This is Barça’s first ever appearance in the final of the competition, while Lyon have failed to make the final of the competition just once in the last nine years. Last season the two teams met at the quarter-final stage, with the French side winning out 3-1 on aggregate.
A potential first European title for Barça Femení would make for a spectacular conclusion to a season with overall mixed fortunes. The Catalans finished second in the league championship to Atletico de Madrid and were knocked out by the capital club in the semi-final of the Copa de la Reina as well.
“Our first objective was to win the league, but that hasn’t happened,” defender Stefanie Van der Gragt explained to Catalan News. “But, now we’re in the final and it’s a dream come true. We are very excited.”
Van der Gragt recognized that Barça are facing the most dominant team in Europe over the last decade, but said her team have a good chance as “it’s only one game and anything can happen.”
The blaugrana made it to the final by knocking out Bavarian giants Bayern Munich in the semi-final, winning both legs 1-0 and selling out the 15,276 capacity Mini Estadi for the home leg.
Lyon, on the other hand, overcame English side Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final.
The final will also feature the winner of the first ever Ballon d’Or Femenín, Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg.
Political representatives
According to the newspaper La Vanguaria, no ministers in the Spanish government will be attending the match. Spanish president Mariano Rajoy went to Real Madrid’s triumphs in 2016 and 2017, but was not present in 2018 due to the guilty verdict against the People’s Party in the Gürtel corruption case.
La Vanguardia claim Spain will only send the secretary general of sport, María José Rienda.
However, some Catalan politicians will be travelling to Hungary to make it to the game according to radio station RAC1.
Namely, the minister for business in the Catalan government, Àngels Chacón will be there, as well as Janet Sanz, the deputy mayor of Barcelona.