MY ACCOUNT
Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor says Saturday’s Women’s Champions League final against Barcelona will be a “50-50” affair, despite the Blaugrana’s favourites tag.
The French outfit are seeking an eighth title against Jonatan Giraldez’s side, who have suffered just one loss this term across all competitions.
Bompastor is seeking to become the first woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a manager after 2011 and 2012 triumphs with Lyon.
The chance for looming history means she is determined her side will not be discounted in Turin.
“Let’s not forget Lyon have a lot of experience,” she said at Friday’s pre-match news conference. “This allows us to know how to approach it, but a final is 50-50. A magician never reveals their tricks.
“But our team is a talented and we have the skill set necessary to give them a run for their money, which is what we’re going to do.
“This is a 10th final for Lyon and the chance to win an eighth title. That’s more important than anything for me as an individual.”
Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, meanwhile, insists her side will not underestimate their opponents and their impressive pedigree too, even on the cusp of a famous clean sweep.
“Lyon are a well respected team in Europe – they won the Champions League five years in a row and they are obviously the team to beat here,” she said.
“They’re much stronger than they were three years ago. It would be good to win the Champions League again, not because it is Lyon we’re playing against but because it’s going to be an amazing experience for us to have it back-to-back.
“We’re getting closer to our goal, we’re getting closer to where we want to be, so on the day I think it’s going to be amazing.
“It will be nice to play in front of a full stadium again with an amazing atmosphere, beautiful soccer from beautiful and great teams in Europe.”
