| Barcelona begin their defence of the UEFA Women`s Champions League on Wednesday with the rest of Europe trying to work out how to stop the Catalans winning the title for the third year running.
Led by the brilliant Aitana Bonmati, as well as Alexia Putellas -- her
predecessor as winner of the Women`s Ballon d`Or -- Barcelona retained the crown in May by beating Lyon 2-0 in Bilbao.
A year after defeating Wolfsburg in Eindhoven, Barcelona eased to victory
against the French giants who have won a record eight Champions Leagues.
Formerly Europe`s dominant force, Lyon outclassed Barcelona in the 2019 final
and were victorious when the teams clashed in 2022.
Yet Barcelona have now won three of the last four editions of the
competition, and have appeared in five of the last six finals.
The question is whether anything can stop lifting the trophy again in Lisbon.
There have been changes in Catalonia, however, with coach Jonatan Giraldez
leaving to take charge of Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
His replacement is Pere Romeu, an internal appointment whose Champions League
bow comes away to Manchester City.
"Pere Romeu gives us the continuity necessary to give the project stability,"
sporting director Marc Vives told the club`s streaming platform, Barca One.
Barcelona have added prolific Polish striker Ewa Pajor, who was top-scorer in
Germany last season for Wolfsburg.
England right-back Lucy Bronze has left for Chelsea, while Spain World Cup-
winning forward Mariona Caldentey has signed for Arsenal.
Crucially, Bonmati and Putellas both agreed contract extensions.
"It is key that they`re staying. Not only in terms of football, as they are
two players who have won the Ballon d`Or, but because they create Barca`s
identity," Vives said.
- Trio of English contenders -
The main challenge to Barcelona could come from England, the only country
with three clubs in the 16-team group phase.
Domestic champions Chelsea are joined by City and Arsenal, who both came
through the qualifying rounds.
Chelsea are the only English finalists in the last 17 years. They were torn
apart by Barcelona in 2021.
They have won the English Women`s Super League in the last five years, but
long-serving coach Emma Hayes left after last season to take the United
States job.
Her replacement is Sonia Bompastor, the former French international who led
Lyon to Champions League glory in 2022.
Chelsea, with Bronze, Sam Kerr and Lauren James, should be too strong for
Real Madrid, Dutch champions Twente and Celtic in Group B.
City, who have added prolific Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, could give
Barcelona a tough test but both sides will expect to advance from a group
also containing Austria`s St Poelten and Sweden`s Hammarby.
"Everything that has been done so far, and to have won Champions Leagues, has
a lot of merit. But now another reality begins," said Barca coach Romeu of
the draw.
Arsenal have a tough assignment in Group C alongside German champions Bayern
Munich and Juventus.
Gunners coach Jonas Eidevall has taken aim at WSL scheduling, saying forcing
them to play this Sunday before going to Bayern on Wednesday was "amateurish"
and could hinder their European prospects.
"Do the league want English teams to be successful at European level? I would
hope the answer to that would be `yes`, but the actions show differently. It
shows that this is not one of their priorities," Eidevall told reporters.
Lyon, the perennial French champions, have appointed Joe Montemurro, the
Australian former Arsenal and Juventus coach, to replace Bompastor.
They still have former Ballon d`Or winner Ada Hegerberg and USA midfield star
Lindsey Horan, while Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga is prolific.
Lyon are in a group with Wolfsburg, another traditional powerhouse, as well
as Italian champions Roma and Galatasaray.
This will be the last season of the competition in its current format, before
UEFA introduces a single 18-team league stage from next year.
That format will be similar to the new-look men`s Champions League, while
UEFA will introduce a second women`s club competition from 2025.
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