Barcelona Femeni dominates not only the Spanish league, but also the Champions League. The team can get the third title against FC Arsenal on Saturday.
Striker Ewa Pajor celebrated numerous titles with VfL Wolfsburg. In the UEFA Women’s Champions League, however, she could never get the trophy in her VfL period. That could change now, because with FC Barcelona your chances are good to triumph on Saturday (from 6 p.m. in the LIVETICKER on Sportschau.de) in the final. “We have great players, a great team of coaches and yes, I believe in it. We can make it”said the Polish before the decisive game against Arsenal.
Barcelona dominated the UWCL season
The fact that Barcelona can get the fourth title, the third in a row, not only believes Ewa Pajor. The dominance of the Spaniards speaks their own language. Apart from the failed start of the Champions League season with a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City, Barcelona was able to win all the following games and overrun the opponents. Including VfL Wolfsburg, which had to experience Spanish strength in 1: 4 and 6: 1 in the quarter -finals. FC Arsenal also knows from his own experience what awaits him on Saturday: In 2021, both teams in the Champions League finally met – Barcelona won 4: 0 and 4: 1 in the group phase.
And not only in the Champions League, FC Barcelona has been the bar in women’s football for years. The Catalans have now collected the title in the Spanish division for the sixth time in a row, they were also able to win the Spanish Supercup and they will meet Atlético Madrid on June 7th in the Spanish trophy. The second quadruple after the 2023/24 season is still in and if you look at the current form curve of the team, the chances are good that Barcelona – once again – writes history.
Arsenal’s shine faded
Opponent Arsenal knows exactly how to introduce yourself into the football history-however, the shine has now faded a little. In the 2006/07 season, Arsenal won all six possible titles in Europe – from the English championship to the Champions League to the Women’s League Cup. Since then, the titles have been less, while FC Barcelona expanded its dominance from year to year and rarely lost an important game.
The squad is one that makes the team shine for years. Here world stars like Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí meet here, who have often been there for many seasons and shape the team. The strong midfield makes Barcelona with players like Clàudia Pina and Salma Paralluelo an offensive. Plus Ewa Pajor, who put her own records in the shade in her first season for Barcelona with almost 50 goals – 25 in the Spanish league.
Barcas Training philosophy: Hard work
The ex-Wolfsburg woman quickly realized that the skills of her Spanish teammates are no coincidence. “You won everything last year, even the year before, and yet I experienced one thing here on my first day: hard work. Everyone here wants to get better every day”she said. And this training philosophy extends to the youth. FC Barcelona’s youth work, both for the men and women, is sometimes a reason for long -term success, because numerous own plants are used in the youth academy of the association. The Barca superstars Bonmatí and Putellas also played there.
From the youth, the players benefit from professional structures, which are also due to the strong financial situation of the association. FC Barcelona was most recently the highest sales club in European women’s football and generated around 7.7 million euros around 2021/22. The high media presence and a strong fan base have also been helping for years that the team can develop better and better.
Arsenal’s star player with a long Barca past
It is not surprising that one of the best players in FC Arsenal has a long past at FC Barcelona: Mariona Caldentey played for the club ten years before moving to England a year ago. The Spanish international was recently named the best player of the English Women’s Super League and had a significant part in the fact that FC Arsenal is now facing her ex-club in Lisbon.
In the Estádio José Alvalade, the Spanish champion will meet the English runner -up on Saturday. And a lot suggests that Barcelona will go from his 100th Champions League game with his technically almost perfect players, the high ball possession and a strong position game as the winner. Because the style of playing of the Catalan is also a building block for the far -reaching dominance.
However, FC Arsenal has demonstrated its resistance several times in the past and has struggled back impressively after precipitation and residues. And with players like Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Kim Little, the Renée Slegers squad does not have to hide. So it should be an interesting game in Lisbon, which is only over when referee Ivana Martinčić releases the final whistle.