Triple Threat: The Tactics Behind Barcelona’s Third UWCL Title Success – Tactical Analysis

The 2021/22 Women’s Champions League final, which took place in Turin, saw Barcelona Femení and Lyon Féminin meet for the fourth time in their history.

The latter side had won all four meetings.

As a result, overcoming them has proven impossible for Barcelona over the years, with Lyon the only team they have never beaten on a football pitch.

The rivalry that has emerged between the two has become one of Europe’s most well-known, and the latest chapter of it took place at the weekend as they met once again in this year’s final, held at Athletic Club’s San Mamés Stadium.

It was a game that many around Europe had long been looking forward to.

It proved to be well worth the build-up that it had been afforded, with Barcelona finally ending their long wait for a win in a hotly-contested affair and completing a quadruple for the campaign (having already acquired the Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup titles) whilst also preventing Lyon from adding a ninth European title to their honours list.

This tactical analysis will break down how the Spanish side managed to edge out their opponents and emerge with the win, highlighting the game plan they set out to implement and the changes they made to their tactics as the match went on.

The analysis will also indicate what Lyon sought to do from the early stages and why it ultimately failed.

Barcelona Femení Vs Lyon Féminin Lineups

Barcelona Femení head coach Jonatan Giráldez made three changes to his starting lineup after last weekend’s win against Real Sociedad Femenino in the Copa final, with goalkeeper Sandra Paños, former Manchester United Women full-back Ona Batlle and forward Clàudia Pina all dropping to the bench.

Cata Coll started between the posts, while versatile Sweden international Fridolina Rolfö took Batlle’s place at left-back.