Preview: Barcelona Women vs. Lyon Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Barcelona Women will be aiming to retain their European crown, but they must overcome Lyon Women, who are aiming to win the competition for the eighth time.

Match preview

Barcelona lifted the Women's Champions League trophy for the first time in their history last season after thrashing Chelsea in the final, and the defending champions will now have the chance to retain their crown when they face Lyon on Saturday.

For the most part, Barcelona's passage to the final has been a simple one, with a group containing Arsenal and Hoffenheim comfortably negotiated before their rivals Real Madrid were brushed aside by an 8-3 aggregate scoreline in the quarter-final.

Wolfsburg were then thrashed 5-1 in the first leg of their semi-final clash, however, they were given a scare in the second leg in Germany, with Die Wölfinnen clinching a 2-0 victory at the Volkswagen Arena to condemn the Catalan giants to their first competitive defeat since June 2021.

The second leg loss could not prevent Jonatan Giraldez's side from reaching the final, and they head to Turin in a confident mood after winning their last three matches.

With the Primera Iberdrola title already wrapped up and a Copa del la Reina semi-final still to come, Barcelona will keep their hopes of a treble alive if they can lift the Champions League trophy on Saturday.

After scoring 37 goals across their 10 Champions League matches this season, the Spanish champions will believe they have the firepower to beat a high-quality Lyon side.

Lyon are the most successful team in Women's Champions League history after being crowned champions of Europe on seven occasions.

The French side ousted Levante in the qualifying round to begin their European campaign before they eased through the group phase to set up a quarter final tie with Juventus.

After losing 2-1 in the first leg against the Italian champions Sonia Bompastor's charges fought back in France to clinch a 4-2 aggregate victory.

A semi-final tie against fellow French side Paris Saint-Germain followed, with Lyon claiming a 5-3 win over the two legs to reach the Champions League final for the 10th time in their history.

Unlike their opponents, a treble is not possible for Lyon, but with the league title all but sealed, Les Fenottes will be dreaming about winning a double this season.

Aiming to claim their fourth European title in the last five seasons, the French outfit will be looking to draw inspiration from their 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League final.

Barcelona Women Women's Champions League form:

Barcelona Women form (all competitions):

Lyon Women Women's Champions League form:

Lyon Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Lieke Martens returned from injury last weekend to feature for the final 10 minutes of Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid and the 29-year-old will be included in Saturday's squad, although she is only expected to be fit enough for a place on the bench.

There could be a place in the starting lineup for Mariona Caldentey, who has also recently made her comeback from an injury layoff to feature in the last five matches.

The current Ballon d'Or holder Alexia Putellas is currently the joint top scorer in the competition, and the Spanish international will be aiming to add to the 10 goals she has already scored in Europe this term.

As for Lyon, they are unable to call upon the services of Dzsenifer Marozsan, who has missed the last four matches due to an injury issue.

Damaris Egurrola could feature in midfield after returning to the starting XI for Lyon's 2-0 victory over Paris FC nearly two weeks ago.

The French side's main goal threat will come from Catarina Macario and Ada Hegerberg, who have netted 12 Champions League goals between them this season.

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

Panos; Torrejon, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Hansen, Caldentey, Hermoso

Lyon Women possible starting lineup:

Endler; Carpenter, Renard, Mbock, Bacha; Henry, Egurrola, Horan; Cascarino, Macario; Hegerberg

We say: Barcelona Women 2-1 Lyon Women

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