As soon as captain Wendie Renard holds the Champions League trophy aloft, the golden glitter showers down. Lyon know the drill, they have conquered Europe eight times, including winning five consecutive titles from 2016 to 2020. But that is the past.
On Saturday, the French side experienced the unfamiliar feeling of standing to the side of the winners’ podium and having to watch Barcelona celebrate their landmark 2-0 win. Lyon had never lost to Barcelona and had not lost a European final since 2014. Ten years on, the not so new kids on the block are here to stay.
When Barcelona claimed their first title in 2021, beating Chelsea 4-0, many thought that was the start of the tide turning but a year later Lyon humbled them with a 3-1 defeat. Following Saturday’s victory, however, Barcelona have now won more Champions Leagues (three) than Lyon (two) over the last five years, and have been more consistent, making the last four consecutive finals. Getting to the top is difficult, and staying at the top is even harder, but Barcelona are firmly cementing their position.
So is now the moment that symbolises the changing of the guard? Barcelona field the best technical players in the world but up until recently had lacked the mentality, maturity and experience one always associates with Lyon. On Saturday, though, Barcelona showed they now have both qualities and the potential to dominate for years to come, just like Lyon did.
Despite the Barcelona fans taking over the city of Bilbao and the San Mames stadium, and their chants before kick-off drowning out the referee’s whistle and the tiny section of Lyon supporters, they did not blow Lyon away in Saturday’s final.
The biggest compliment to Lyon is that they made it look difficult for the usually effortless Catalans. The first half was so tight that it showed how closely matched the two teams were. Both teams had chances and made goal-line clearances but it was Barcelona who were more clinical over the course of the game to win it 2-0. They had 14 shots, of which four were on target, to Lyon’s 13, of which two were on target. Lyon restricted Barcelona to their lowest xG (1.1) in their last four Champions League finals but Lyon themselves registered the lowest xG (0.73) in a Champions League final since 2019.
Up until now, Lyon have been the team to beat. When asked if now it was Barcelona, the United States women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan said: “I don’t want to put it that way. Both clubs are incredible. It’s hard every time we play them. It’s hard for them as well, an incredible battle, two really quality teams at the top of their game.”
Before the game, the Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor disagreed with any notion of the tide turning, pointing to Lyon’s serial winning record and said in terms of their track record they would be “the best club in the world” regardless of the Champions League result. In the here and now though, Barcelona are in the ascendancy. Outgoing manager Jonatan Giraldez, who will join Washington Spirit, acknowledged Lyon’s achievements but said: “I like to live in the present. Last year we were the best and this year too. History will tell who is the best.”
Meanwhile, the player of the match Aitana Bonmati, did not want to talk about the start of a Barcelona supremacy, stating that next year they have to prove themselves once again. Bonmati opened the scoring following a great move on the hour mark, before Alexia Putellas put the game beyond doubt in added time.
(Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“I wouldn’t like to make comparisons, they have made their way and we are making ours,” said Horan. “I’ll stick to the present, enjoy it, what we’ve done today is great.”
Barcelona, however, are clearly striding forward so how do Lyon, and others, close the gap?
“You focus on us,” said Horan. “We go back, work hard, we’ll be back.”
On the other hand, former Arsenal player Danielle van de Donk questioned the phrasing around keeping up with Barcelona. “I think we keep up with them,”she replied.
Lyon are not resting on their laurels. Change is afoot with a new owner in Michele Kang, an American businesswoman who also owns NWSL side Washington Spirit and England Women’s Championship team London City Lionesses, and a new coach, with Bompastor set to be announced as Chelsea women’s head coach next week.
Their captain Renard described Kang arriving with “a great deal of determination and ambition”, while Bompastor noted her “clear vision” of what she wants to achieve which fits well with the club’s ambitions and history.
Kang has not beaten around the bush. In her first press conference in February, she criticised the team’s training facilities and resources, which aligns with Van de Donk’s thoughts.
“I was shocked the first time I arrived at Lyon,” said Van de Donk. “How did they win everything? Because the facilities were not as good as I thought they were.”
“It’s one of the best teams in the world, so we deserve more,” added Horan. “Just because we’ve been at the top and we’ve won this many trophies doesn’t mean everything’s perfect.”
Kang has already increased the number of specialised training staff to 26, a multicultural group, including a head of performance, full-time nutritionist and psychologist. She will give them all the means they need to succeed at the highest level.
What is clear is that Lyon’s insatiable desire to win will not fade. “Winning as many titles as possible is what motivates us every day,” said Renard before the game. “The Lyon mentality will not change, neither tomorrow nor for the future.”
The larger question is whether both clubs can keep their star players. Lyon and Barcelona are littered with some of the world’s best footballers but their domestic leagues are predictable. The ever-increasing attraction of the more competitive leagues in England and the United States may turn some heads.
This Champions League final has set up one tantalising rivalry which is much needed in order to maintain interest and investment but it may only happen once a year, and perhaps not at all. The women’s game must go beyond Lyon and Barcelona but for now the Catalan giants are sitting at the top.
(Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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