OSLO, Norway (AP) 鈥� Barcelona and OL Lyonnes are both chasing a season sweep of four major trophies when they meet in the Women鈥檚 Champions League final Saturday.
The two dominant clubs in European women鈥檚 soccer over 15 years face each other for the fourth time in the past eight finals.
It is 2-1 in that head-to-head for Lyon which has a record eight European titles, including five straight through 2020, in the competition鈥檚 25-year history.
Barcelona is in its seventh final in eight years, its sixth in a row, and is widely favored to win a fourth title.
That era started with a humbling 4-1 loss to Lyon in the 2019 final in Budapest.
鈥淭hey were much, much better than us. I am humble enough to say that,鈥� Barcelona鈥檚 two-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner Al猫xia Putellas recalled.
Lyon also won their title clash in 2022 and only in 2024 did against its biggest rival.
Lyon captain Wendie Renard is set to play in her 12th final of a remarkable career, since scoring in the French giant鈥檚 first title win in 2011.
The teams are coached by former colleagues at Barcelona. Jonatan Gir谩ldez now coaches Lyon after winning two Women鈥檚 Champions League titles at Barcelona when Pere Romeu was one of his assistants.
鈥淚 feel privileged to face Barcelona as I鈥檓 grateful for the experience I had there and I wish them the best,鈥� Gir谩ldez said.
Oslo too small?
UEFA鈥檚 choice of Oslo to host the final has drawn some criticism from Barcelona.
Star player suggested the 28,000-seat Ullevaal Stadium was 鈥渁 step back鈥� for women鈥檚 soccer: a stadium too small in a city with too few direct flights.
Norway was defended as in Europe by UEFA鈥檚 director of women鈥檚 football, Nadine Kessler. She played in three Champions League finals that each drew crowds of fewer than 20,000.
The Ullevaal is sold out Saturday, while one year ago Sporting Lisbon鈥檚 stadium was just three-quarters full with nearly 39,000 to watch .
Norway鈥檚 established stars 鈥� Barcelona鈥檚 Caroline Graham Hansen and Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg 鈥� stood up for their national stadium Friday.
鈥淭he venue was decided a couple of years ago,鈥� said Graham Hansen, who grew up in this neighborhood of Oslo, 鈥渁nd you didn鈥檛 take it for granted you would sell out the stadium.鈥�
The game is 鈥渁 once in a lifetime鈥� opportunity for Norwegian soccer and to inspire young girls, Hegerberg said.
The 2027 final is in Warsaw at Poland鈥檚 national stadium, which can hold 56,000 for the biggest games.
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