Rivalries on tap with Barcelona
LONDON (AP) — Power struggles, intriguing matchups and fond farewells.
The Women’s Champions League semifinals kicking off Saturday have a bit of everything.
Two teams are trying to assert their continental dominance and the other two are fighting to be crowned European champion for the first time.
Defending champion Barcelona hosts Chelsea in their first-leg match on Saturday afternoon before eight-time champion Lyon takes on French rival Paris Saint-Germain in the evening. The second legs are the following weekend.
Barcelona is going for its third title in four years, while Lyon is seeking its record-extending ninth. Lyon has “only” been to one final in the past three years. That’s great by most standards but off the pace from Lyon’s earlier dominance. It won five in a row from 2016-2020.
Should Lyon and Barcelona advance to the May 25 final in Bilbao, Spain, it would be a rematch of the 2022 decider, when Lyon won 3-1.