This Sunday’s Champions League final will be the fourth time that Wolfsburg and Lyon have met in the most significant game in club football.
The German side triumphed over a spirited Barcelona team in the semi-finals. They beat their Spanish competition 1-0 in San Sebastian, with Fridolina Rolfö scoring the only goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesWolfsburg have scored 32 goals in the competitions so far, only conceding once. Glasgow City are the only side to score against the German champions, and even that came in a 9-1 defeat.
Die Wölfe are undefeated since March last year. The last side to beat them? Fellow finalists Lyon, who went on to win last year’s tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe French outfit won their place in Sunday’s final besting their fellow French side Paris Saint-Germain. In doing so, Lyon extended their winning run over PSG to 24.
Les Fenottes are now in their fifth consecutive Champions League final. In fact, the French champions have been in this position in nine of the last 13 seasons.
Embed from Getty ImagesLyon have also only conceded one goal on their way to the final, in a narrow 2-1 win over Bayern Munich.
A Familiar Opponent
Lyon have won two of the three previous Champions League finals between the two sides. The French side also hold a two-legged win over Wolfsburg from last season.
The last two finals between them have gone to extra time. Alexandra Popp equalised late in the 2016 final to send it to extra time and an eventual penalty shootout. One which Lyon narrowly came out on top 4-3.
Embed from Getty ImagesPernille Harder opened the scoring in the 2018 final after 90 minutes of goalless action. The tide swung magnificently and Lyon scored four goals in the remaining 27 minutes of extra time to win another European trophy.
Wolfsburg’s only final win over Lyon came in 2013. Stamford Bridge hosted the final as Martina Muller scored a penalty for the Wolfinnen to secure a 1-0 win.
Who to Watch
Lyon is definitely the team to beat. Their impressive display against PSG proved that Wolfsburg will have to be at their best.
The German side may find their defence lacking, relying on a front-heavy approach, spearheaded by Pernille Harder.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Dane will be hoping to add to her nine goals so far this Champions League campaign. They will need something special to beat Sarah Bouhaddi.
Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer are all vying for theirs — and Lyon’s — seventh Champions League title.
With Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg out, eyes will be on the Lyon attack to try and come up with something worthy of her previous final performances.
