No longer a modest event: Barcelona and Lyon ready for the Champions League final for women Israel today

Until a few years ago the Champions League final for women was a modest event, which received very little media attention.

Most football fans in Europe were not even aware of the existence of the game.

But no more.

When the women's teams of Barcelona and Lyon go up tonight (Saturday, 19:50, live broadcast on Sport 5 Live) to the lawn at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, quite a few records will be broken. A thousand fans.The estimates speak to over 20 million TV viewers and streaming, and not just in Spain and France, the countries from which the two finalists come.

Vs 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔

🏟️ 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍

🏆 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚

Barcelona vs Lyon: who ya got ⁉️ # UWCL |

#UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/xe58z8qVAt

- UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) May 21, 2022

Women's football is undergoing a real revolution.

Tens of thousands of spectators come to games all over the continent, advertisers realize the huge potential of the industry, which is developing at an incredible pace, and suddenly there is little money in women's football.

The team that wins the trophy will receive 1.4 million euros.

Very little compared to what you get in men's football, but almost double what was customary until now.

And it's clear to everyone that this is just the beginning.

Just for comparison, the men's Champions League semi-finals reached 188,884 spectators.

179,554 spectators came to the four games in the Women's Champions League semi-finals.

A negligible difference.

The highlight was of course Barcelona's game against Wolfsburg, when 91,648 fans came to the Camp Nou and set a new world record in women's football.

And this is three weeks after the stadium had 91,533 fans for the Clasico against Real Madrid.

Hard to believe, but it's a fact: no men's game in the world in the last year has brought in such a one of spectators.

And Barça Pemani has done it twice.

The enthusiasm from this Barcelona is understandable, as it is not only the best team in the world, but it also plays the football that Barça fans love to see.

Tiki taka, dedication from foot to foot, and countless goals.

Against Real and Wolfsburg captain Alexia Pottias and her teammates scored 10 goals in both home games.

Xavi, Barcelona's men's coach, who was in both games, said: "We have quite a bit to learn from them."

Barcelona.

The best team in the world, Photo: AP

The final against Lyon will be an opportunity for Barça to "take revenge" on Lyon, who beat them 1: 4 in the 2019 Champions League final.

Lyon have won the trophy seven times, more than any other team, and five times in a row, between 2016 and 2020.

But last year the turnaround came.

Barcelona defeated Chelsea 0: 4 in the final and established its position as the best team on the continent.

She won the Spanish championship by winning all 30 games, and until a 2-0 loss in the semi-final match against Wolfsburg (which did not prevent her from reaching the final), she recorded 45 consecutive victories!

Barça reach the final in Turin as a favorite, but Lyon do not intend to give up easily.

The Norwegian team plays Edda Hagerberg, who scored a hat-trick in the final against Barça three years ago.

Herberg is also the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, with 58 goals.

Lyon.

Not going to give up on Barcelona, ​​Photo: AFP

Barcelona have never beaten Lyon, and the team is convinced that this time it will happen, and that the trophy will travel to Catalonia again this year.

Friedolina Rolfo, Barça's Swedish striker, said: "In 2019 Lyon were too good. But something has changed since then. After that loss we understood what we need to do to reach their level."

And Rolfo adds: "When more than 91,000 fans come twice to see us, it's clear that it creates expectations and creates pressure. But we have learned to live with the pressure."

Alexia Potias, who won the "Golden Ball" and scored 10 goals this season in the Champions League, hopes to lift the trophy on Saturday night for the second time in a row.

Alexia is the symbol and face of Barcelona, ​​and is the best ambassador of the most developing sport in the world.

Were we wrong?

Fixed!

If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us