Barcelona-Lyon, a duel of the time in Turin

Olympique de Lyon will challenge defending champion Barcelona in the Champions League final this Saturday in Turin (7:00 p.m., DAZN).

Something unthinkable three years ago, when the French team overwhelmed the azulgrana in Budapest (4-1);

much more unimaginable, in any case, if you take into account the first match between Lyon and Barcelona in September 2012. “I was amazed, they were the best team I had ever seen in my life.

We saw them fly by like airplanes”, recalls Melanie Serrano, the player who has played the most games in the history of Barça (516).

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Barcelona was preparing to play its first Champions League in the 2012-2013 campaign and traveled to Annecy (France) to play a friendly match against the then current champion.

“We played with five defenders.

We endured in the first half.

In the second, they passed us over”, explains Xavi Llorens, the Barça coach at the time.

“We didn't know how to stop them.

They outplayed us in all facets of the game, attacking, defending, with the ball, without the ball…”, says Melanie.

The match ended 3-0.

A harbinger of what would happen to them in their Champions League debut: Arsenal swept them 7-0 on aggregate.

Barça began its journey through Europe with a budget of 500,000 euros.

That of Lyon, which had begun its commitment to the women's section in 2004, was around four million.

“That day I discovered Sonia Bompastor”, explains Melanie;

She “played in my position.

I was shocked."

When the match ended, Serrano told Xavi Llorens that he wanted something from Bompastor.

He settled for a photo.

“I gave him my address so he could send me the shirt.

He never sent it to me.

I'm going to remind him on Saturday”, jokes Serrano.

Today Sonia Bompastor is the coach of Lyon.

"People always tell me that I have a very bad memory and they are right," says the French;

“I don't remember that day.

But I saw the tribute to Melanie the other day and I take this opportunity to congratulate her on her career”.

Bompastor retired in 2013. After starting her career as a coach in youth football at Lyon, this season she was offered the first team.

Last season, the French team, after winning five Champions (a total of seven) and 14 consecutive leagues,

Bompastor woke the giant.

Although she lost the Cup final against PSG, the coach has 33 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses in her 38 games, with a balance of 124 goals for and 22 against.

If the French coach has refreshed the face of Lyon, Jonatan Giráldez has been able to raise Barcelona.

His task was not easy after the treble achieved by the Catalans last season.

Barça has already won the league and the Super Cup and qualified for the Cup final four. They have won 40 of the 42 games they have played and have scored 210 goals and conceded 19.

"Barcelona is the team that has advanced the fastest in recent years," says Bompastor.

Today Barcelona's budget is five million, 10 times higher than the one it had the first time it faced Lyon in 2012. "He believed in his women's team,

respecting its DNA and its philosophy.

Today, he is a benchmark in women's football, ”added the French coach.

Lyon, in any case, has not stopped growing either: they invest close to 10 million in their women's team.

“Although they keep the same base, now they are a team that have different registers, they can have the ball, they can wait behind and look for the counterattack.

They adapt”, exposes Jonatan Giráldez.

Nadine Kessler, head of UEFA women's football, discusses the final: “They have different systems of play, but they both like to dominate the match.

It will be a psychological final.

Whoever comes out with the best mentality will win.”

“Barça is the favourite”, emphasizes Bompastor.

“But”, he warns, Wendie Renard, captain of Lyon;

“we are hungry”.

Irene Paredes doesn't want to be intimidated - "I haven't even looked at the French press," says the Barça center-back -, while Alexia Putellas doesn't accept labels.

“We are completely indifferent to what the rival coach says.

She neither puts pressure nor takes it off.

I don't get into favoritism, ”replies Alexia.

Barcelona is not only looking for its second Orejona, it wants to certify its dominance in Europe, nothing less than against the owner of the Champions League.

A period duel in Turin.

Irene Paredes is clear: "Right now we are the two best teams in Europe and the world."

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