It will be a spectacular send-off. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * It will be a spectacular send-off. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion It will be a spectacular send-off.
As Barcelona’s blaugrana colours and the blue, red and white of Olympique Lyonnais shimmer on the nearby waters of the Nervión, projected by the illuminated panels of Estadio de San Mamés, women’s football’s team of the moment will be facing the team of the century in a much-anticipated Champions League final. The symbolic conclusion to the club season, the match (Saturday, 11 a.m.
, DAZN) will also serve as a sort of going-away party ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games, where the women’s football tournament will commence in exactly two months. Joan Monfort / The Associated Press files Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmati (left) is among the elite of women’s world soccer players. Spain, the reigning world champions, will bring as many as eight or nine Barcelona players to the Games.
France, which hosts them, will name six or seven participants from Lyon to a team it hopes will use home field advantage to win the gold medal. Saturday’s showdown will also feature the last three winners of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, as well as a trio of the 2023 award’s top four finalists. That they all represent Barcelona has a lot to do with the club’s recent dominance, both in the domestic Liga F and co.