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

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 June 2023, 00:26
The Women's Champions League trophy will be at stake when Barcelona Women face Wolfsburg Women in Saturday's final, which takes place at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.

The Spanish champions are aiming to win the trophy for a second time, while Wolfsburg are looking for a third Champions League trophy.

Match preview

Barcelona have enjoyed another successful season, winning the league title for the fourth consecutive campaign and lifting their third Spanish Super Cup.

The Catalan giants will attempt to add another piece of silverware to their bursting trophy cabinet when they make their fourth Champions League final appearance in five years.

While they were successful in 2021, Barcelona lost out in the final to record winners Lyon in 2019 and 2022, with last year's contest ending in a 3-1 defeat.

Jonatan Giraldez's side suffered a disappointing result in their most recent outing, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Madrid CFF, bringing an end to their 64-game unbeaten league run.

They will be hoping to experience better fortunes when they face Wolfsburg on Saturday, and they will be able to take confidence from the fact that they claimed a 5-3 aggregate victory over Die Wölfinnen in last season's semi-finals.

Wolfsburg fell short in their Frauen-Bundesliga title race with rivals Bayern Munich, but they were victorious in last month's DFB-Pokal final against Freiburg.

If they are to finish the campaign with two pieces of silverware then Die Wölfinnen will need to end their barren spell in Champions League finals.

After being crowned European champions in 2013 and 2014, Wolfsburg have fallen short in their last three final appearances, finishing runners-up to Lyon in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

The German side are unbeaten in 11 Champions League matches since suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou in April 2022.

Although they lost last year's semi-final tie, Wolfsburg boast an impressive head-to-head record against Barcelona, winning four of their five meetings in the Champions League.

Barcelona Women Women's Champions League form:

W

W

W

W

W

D

Barcelona Women form (all competitions):

Wolfsburg Women Women's Champions League form:

D

W

W

D

D

W

Wolfsburg Women Women's form (all competitions):

Team News

Lucy Bronze and Fridolina Rolfo are fitness concerns for Barcelona, but the pair have been included in the travelling party.

The Catalan club are also hoping that Asisat Oshoala can shake off a hamstring complaint to take her place in the forward line.

Alexia Putellas has made five substitute appearances since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and she is expected to be utilised off the bench on Saturday.

As for Wolfsburg, they have doubts over the availability of defender Marina Hegering, who has missed the last three matches due to an injury issue.

Lena Lattwein has recovered from a broken collarbone and is expected to feature in the centre of midfield alongside Lena Oberdorf.

With eight European goals to her name, Ewa Pajor is the leading scorer in the Champions League this season, and she will be looking to add to her tally when she leads the line.

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

Panos; Bronze, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro; Graham Hansen, Caldentey, Oshoala

Wolfsburg Women possible starting lineup:

Frohms; Wilms, Janssen, Hendrich, Rauch; Oberdorf, Lattwein; Huth, Roord, Popp; Pajor

We say: Barcelona Women 2-1 Wolfsburg Women

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