Lyon elite v Barca powerhouse in Women's Champions League final

Holders Barcelona face record eight-time winners Lyon in Saturday's Women's Champions League final at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium, in a meeting of Europe's titans.

For Barcelona, this is the chance to retain their crown and become only the third club to win the competition three times.

For Lyon, it is the opportunity to add to their dominance on the European stage as Sonia Bompastor's side chase a ninth title.

Barcelona ended Chelsea's hopes in the last four while Lyon beat French rivals Paris St-Germain to reach the final.

It is a fourth straight final and fifth in six years for Barca, while Lyon are in the final for an 11th time - though they were knocked out by Chelsea in the quarter-finals last year.

"It’s Lyon and their dynasty meeting the title holders," French journalist Sara Menai told BBC Sport.

"It’s exciting to see Lyon in the final again and to see how they can compete against their heirs, in a sense.

"They have been so dominant but this is slowly coming to an end. It’s the old big name against the team that is rising bit-by-bit."

Barcelona and Lyon have met four times previously in the Women's Champions League, with the French side coming out on top each time.

They beat the Catalans in the final in 2019 and 2022, as well as winning both quarter-final legs in 2018, but Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Sport Barca are a different beast this time.

"Barcelona haven’t managed to beat Lyon yet, but let’s not compare this final to the one in 2022," he said.

"They have a stronger bench, the players that have arrived have made a difference and the ones that were there have come through the ranks to become leaders.

"They are becoming stronger, much more difficult to beat. You would say on paper they are slight favourites, but Lyon are great competitors."

Barcelona may head into the game as favourites but Lyon have been there and done it on Europe's biggest stage all too many times before and will be feeling confident.

While the wind is in Barca's sails, it is Lyon who boast the best record in the competition this season as the only unbeaten side - outscoring Jonatan Giraldez's side by 36 goals to 34 in their 10 games en route to Bilbao.

"We do take Barcelona very seriously in France," Menai said. "This is a massive club and a big threat. If you look at the facts, Lyon have never lost to Barcelona in European competition. Yes, they are on top of things in their league and are way above Real Madrid, but Lyon have the psychological advantage."

"They have this perfect mix of experience and young talent," she said. "Despite them having won so many titles, they are still hungry, they are not satisfied and still want more."

Lyon are buoyed by the return of former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg, who missed the semi-finals through injury. But Balague believes Barca's squad depth gives them the edge.

"Both teams are the best in Europe, they have got the best individuals no doubt," he said.

"But Barcelona have one or two that seem to be ahead of the rest. Aitana Bonmati for instance appears in big games, as she did against Chelsea. It was a big test for Barcelona to win away and they did by dominating.

"The players are used to playing big games now. They want the ball, they make impact during the game, they don’t hide. These are some of the best players in the world because in these big games you see what makes them the best players."

Saturday will be a day for saying adios, and potentially au revoir.

While there are still two league games to play for Barca, the showpiece will be Giraldez's last European game in charge - and Bompastor is also expected to leave Lyon after her final game.

Giraldez is heading stateside to take charge of NWSL side Washington Spirit, while Bompastor is expected to be named as Emma Hayes' replacement at Chelsea.

Bompastor, 43, became the first woman to win the Women's Champions League as both a player and head coach. She has also won three league titles and one French Cup in her time as manager of Lyon.

She made more than 100 appearances over two spells with Lyon as a player and has spent the past 14 years there in various roles.

"It would be the perfect goodbye for a woman who played at the club and came through all the steps to get to that job," Menai said.

"I think she would go down as a big part of Lyon’s history. She will be remembered as one of the very important figures at Lyon as a player and a manager, and even more if they do it against Barcelona."

Giraldez, 32, will bid farewell to Barca after a successful stint, having arrived in 2019 as Lluis Cortes' assistant.

He succeeded Cortes in 2021 and has won the Champions League plus three league titles and two Copa de la Reinas.

"He will be their most successful ever manager," Balague said.

"If you count his time also with Cortes as an assistant, it will be very difficult to beat all those records.

"He’s got everybody’s respect. The move to the States makes sense for him, it’s a good time to move on having left a massive impact at the club."