Barcelona players to look out for in the Women’s Champions League final

Barcelona will play in their second Women’s Champions League in three years when they face Chelsea in Gothenburg on Sunday 16 May.

Barça have developed considerably since they were thrashed 4-1 by Lyon at this stage in 2019 and are gunning to become only the third non-French or German club to lift the trophy in the competition’s 20-year history.

In Chelsea, they face a side that has dominated its domestic league in recent seasons, but Barça have turned up the heat in Spain this year and go into the final with a perfect record of 26 wins from 26 games in the Primera Division. They were masterful at times against Manchester City in the last eight and then conquered PSG, who had knocked out Lyon, in the semis.

Here’s a look at seven Barça stars to look out for in the final.

1. Patri Guijarro

Central midfielder Patri is only 22 yet is a senior player in this Barcelona team, and one that perfectly encapsulates the philosophy that is drilled into La Masia students from a young age. She is widely considered one of the best young midfielders in the world.

2. Mapi Leon

Mapi Leon has continued to get better and better in recent seasons. The centre-back is uncompromising but, like Patri, is well drilled in the kind of technical skills so commonly associated with Spanish players. She was also the first ever female player in Spain to command a transfer fee.

3. Alexia Putellas

Barca’s vice-captain is still only 27 but has already been with the club for close to a decade. She was named best player at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup in the United States while on international duty.

4. Lieke Martens

Lieke Martens has been a household name in women’s football since being crowned Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2017 thanks to her star performances en-route to winning Euro 2017 with Netherlands. Her semi-final goals were directly responsible for Barca reaching this final again.

5. Asisat Oshoala

There are fitness concerns hanging over Asisat Oshoala ahead of the final, but if fit the Nigerian has the potential to pose all kind of threats to Chelsea. She scored the last time Barcelona played in the final and was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015 ahead of Brazil icon Marta.

6. Jenni Hermoso

Jenni Hermoso is already the joint leading goalscorer in the Champions League this season and Barca will chiefly look to the Spain star for goals. The 31-year-old has had another prolific campaign but this will be her first Champions League final after re-joining the club in 2019.

7. Caroline Graham Hansen

Caroline Graham Hansen is Barca’s main source of creativity and was ranked the eighth best player in the world in The Guardian’s latest annual list at the end of 2020. She has played in a previous Champions League final for Wolfsburg but is now approaching the peak of her powers.

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