The women’s Champions League will culminate on Saturday afternoon in Eindhoven, Holland, when Barcelona and Wolfsburg take on each other.
Barcelona is looking for only its second victory in history, although the final is already its fourth in the last five years.
Wolfsburg, which has won the competition twice, was last seen in the final in the spring of 2020, when Lyon was better with a score of 3–1. Barcelona experienced the same fate last spring.
– Last year’s defeat in Turin really affected us. I think it was our worst performance of the whole season. It was traumatic for me and the team, because we had worked so hard to win the final, the Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas comment below the finale.
However, the Catalans go into Saturday’s final as early favorites after yet another strong season. The team secured their fourth consecutive championship at the end of April after winning all the matches played up to that point. In the rest of the season, it played one draw and lost to Madrid in the final match.
– Barcelona is a clear favourite. The profiles of the teams are quite different, which also offers Wolfsburg striking positions for the match. Wolfsburg’s place is to strike from special situations, Urheilu’s expert Jonne Kunnas start.
– Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir long throws create danger in all games and on top of that there are corners and free kicks and others. Wolfsburg has Alexandra Poppin players like that who are really dangerous for balls coming in the air.
Kunnas uses fast counterattacks as the second point of attack.
– Barcelona wants to be on the ball a lot and bring up a lot of players. After the exploits, quick counterattacks open up opportunities for Wolfsburg. But Wolfsburg needs a key performance to prevent Barcelona from creating scoring chances, Kunnas reminds.
Barcelona’s health situation a question mark
Captain Alexia Putellas has shone as Barcelona’s brightest star in recent years. However, the star, twice awarded with the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world, has been on the sidelines for almost the entire season due to a knee injury. He recovered to playing condition only on May Day after a break of almost a year, and has not yet started in a single match this season.
The captain himself assured in the press conference before the match that he is fit to play.
– I am 100% fit, but it is the coach’s decision how many minutes I will play, Putellas stated.
Kunnas reminds that in the absence of the captain, other responsibilities have also been found in the team.
– On the other hand, the team has managed without him for almost the entire season. Fence Bonmatí has been super good. He has been excellent for many years, but has taken on a stronger role when Putellas is gone.
However, Putellas’ fitness is not the only question mark in the Barcelona camp. Besides him Lucy Bronze and Fridolina Rolfö both have been sidelined for the last few games due to knee injuries.
However, all three are in Barcelona’s lineup.
– Rolfö in particular is a big question mark. His role is quite significant. He plays the role of left winger when defending, but when attacking, he is in the last line, creating situations and deciding attacks, Kunnas reminds.
Especially follow them
Kunnas urges you to follow the actions of Barcelona’s midfield stars in particular, no matter who plays there in the final. In addition to Bonmat, Kunnas will highlight the player chosen as the best player of the European Championships By Keira Walshwho moved to the Catalan giants for this season for a world record fee.
Barcelona topper Mapi Leon on the other hand, is strong with the ball and also participates in Barcelona’s attack. The 27-year-old top player has been characterized as one of the best in the world, but despite that, he may not be seen at the summer World Cup. The Spanish defender recently said in an interview with a Catalan channel that he would not be going to the World Cup, at least at the moment.
– It’s sad because I deserved a place and I’ve been taking the team to the games. But I can’t back down, changes have to come, Mapi Leon commented.
No less than 15 national team players left the national team in September and the head coach demanded For Jorge Vilda kicks.
In Wolfsburg’s ranks, in addition to Poppi, the Polish striker deserves attention Ewa to Pajor. Pajor leads the Champions League goalscorer with eight goals.
– He has an absolutely super season behind him. As a player, he is versatile, in many ways the epitome of a modern attacker, able to work in front of the line and is really good at making moves behind the line. He finds spaces and is great at finishing from places. He plays a really important role in terms of Wolfsburg’s success, Kunnas sees.
Also Icelandic Jonsdottir worth keeping an eye on, like the only 21-year-old midfielder Lena Oberdorf too.
But how will Saturday’s final be resolved?
– It depends on what kind of plays Barcelona can do with the ball: can they break down Wolfsburg’s defense and find spaces while keeping Wolfsburg’s counterattacks to a minimum. From Wolfsburg’s point of view, the question is how they are able to build their own attacks and at the same time prevent scoring situations, because Barcelona has also been one of the best teams to steal the ball up high, Kunnas concludes.
will show the final match of the soccer Champions League on Saturday, June 3, starting at 4:50 p.m. You can watch the match on Areena and TV2.