Barcelona vs – Barcelona start with Aitana Bonmati on the bench for the UEFA Women’s Champions League clash at 17:00 BST, repeating the same XI from their semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich—while Lyon make one enforced change as Vicki Becho comes in after Kadidiatou
At 17:00 BST, Barcelona and OL Lyonnais are set to face each other in the UEFA Women’s Women’s Champions League, with the lineup itself telling the story before a ball is kicked. For Barcelona, it’s a night of careful risk management and continuity at the same time.
Pere Romeu has named the same starting line-up that started Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat of Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semi-final tie earlier this month. The headline detail sits on Barcelona’s bench: three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati starts as a substitute. She has only recently returned from a broken leg suffered in November.
Barcelona XI: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Brugts, Serrajordi, Guijarro, Putellas (c), Graham Hansen, Pajor, Paralluelo.
The Barcelona substitutes are listed as: G.Font, T.Font, Schertenleib, Torrejon, Pina, Bonmati, Nazareth, Lopez, Camara, Fenger, Ranera, Julia.
Across the pitch, Lyon arrive with their own adjustment. Lyon boss Jonatan Giraldez makes one change to the XI that overcame Arsenal 3-1 in their semi-final second leg. Winger Vicki Becho comes in for Kadidiatou Diani, who is injured and is in Oslo to cheer on her teammates.
Lyon XI: Endler, Lawrence, Renard (c), Engen, Bacha, Dumornay, Heaps, Yohannes, Becho, Hegerberg, Brand.
Lyon’s substitutes are: Belhadj, Marchal, Shrader, Katoto, Egurrola, Fathallah, Sombath, Chawinga, Svava, Benyahia, Tarciane, Rafalski.
Taken together, the teams’ selection offers two very different signals: Barcelona keeping faith with the same XI that delivered their semi-final edge, while Lyon respond to the absence of Diani with a like-for-like reshuffle in the forward line.
Barcelona vs OL Lyonnais UEFA Women's Champions League Aitana Bonmati bench Kadidiatou Diani injury Vicki Becho Jonatan Giraldez Pere Romeu
Wait Bonmati is on the bench?? so she’s not starting, what kind of strategy is that
I don’t get it, Barcelona repeats the same XI and still needs “risk management” like… if it worked before just run it back. Also Lyon subbing someone out cuz of injury seems obvious? lol
Bonmati being back from a broken leg and they’re like “let’s ease her in”… but doesn’t that mean she’s gonna be rusty in the first half. And Diani’s injured so that’s basically guaranteed Lyon wins or something? idk
Barcelona really put the Ballon d’Or winner as a substitute?? That feels disrespectful to the fans. And the article says 17:00 BST but I swear my app said 5pm local, so now I’m confused which time zone matters. Also isn’t “Romeu” like a coach name, why does that sound like a player lol