This year, a new name will be inscribed on the silverware as Chelsea face Barcelona at Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg on Sunday 16 May. Neither team has clinched this title before. It is a debut final for Chelsea; Barcelona had reached the finals two years ago in Budapest, where they lost 4-1 to Lyon. Moreover, both Barcelona and Chelsea clinched their domestic league titles last Sunday, just seven days ahead of their Gothenburg meeting.
Barcelona defeated Manchester City (4-2 aggregate) in the quarter-finals and PSG (3-2 aggregate) in the semi-finals. Chelsea defeated Wolfsburg in the Quarter-final stage (5-1 aggregate) and Bayern Munchen (5-3 aggregate) in the semi-finals. Therefore, it will be the first final without either a French or a German team.
MEET THE TEAMS
BARCELONA FC
Barcelona celebrate reaching the final (via everything Barca)
Immaculada Cabeceran, the founder who went through a lot of struggle to arrange a match for the newly formed women's team on December 25, 1970, at Camp Nou. The women's team was called Penya Femenina Barcelonista. This name changed to Club Femeni Barcelona in 1983. After many unsuccessful attempts, finally, in 1980- Spanish Football Federation recognized women's football and set up a state-level tournament, the Copa de la Reina and, later, the National Women's League.
Until 2002, they weren't an official section of the club!
They are now placed second in the UEFA world ranking, with an impressive performance in every season. They have reached the quarter-finals for the last five seasons. In the semi-finals of the previous season, they lost 1-0 to Wolfsburg. Since then, they have won 35 matches, drawn two, and lost one of 38 competitive games, scoring 166 goals and conceding 13. Last Sunday, they won their sixth Spanish title with eight games to spare-winning all the 26 league fixtures!
Head Coach: Lluis Cortes
He holds degrees in PE (Science of Physical Education and Sport) and PR (Advertising and Public Relations). He joined the club as an analyst in 2017. Eventually, he became part of the coaching team and took charge in January 2019. Last week, he agreed to another season-long contract extension.
He told UEFA.com: "I feel lucky and privileged to be the manager of this team and this group of fantastic players and wonderful people. I feel privileged to experience football, the sport we love, on a daily basis alongside so many great people, both on the staff and in the squad. I think we're like a family and there’s a very good vibe within the group. Everyone is very easy to work with each day."
Players to look out for:
A steady squad with a 4-3-3 lineup was possible after Jenni Hermoso (Spanish International) and Caroline Graham Hansen (Norwegian International) joined the team in the summer 2019 transfer window. Hermoso and Asisat Oshoala have contributed 102 goals in the last two seasons. Lieke Martens, Alexia Putellas are the ones to watch out for along with strong mid-fielders- Patri Guijarro and Kheira Hamraoiu.
CHELSEA FC
Chelsea will be the first club to reach the finals of the women's and men's UEFA Champions League in the same season. Chelsea has invested a lot in their female squad. They have become the second English team to ever reach the UEFA Women's Champions League final.
Chelsea players celebrate their WSL win (via Instagram/@barclaysfawsl, @chelseafc)
They have won back-to-back Women's Super League (WSL) titles and Continental Cup trophies. The signings of Sam Kerr (Australian International) and Danish International, Pernille Harder (reckoned as the costliest signing in the history of WSL) proved to be an instrumental move.
In November 2019, Fran Kirby was diagnosed with a heart disease called pericarditis. At one point, she even thought she might not be able to professionally play football. After nine months of perseverance, she was back on the pitch-bold and better!
Head Coach: Emma Hayes
She was appointed as the head coach in 2012 and since then they have kept adding titles to their name! She was on the coaching team when Vic Akers led Arsenal to the 2006/07 UEFA Women's Cup victory and subsequently worked in the United States before joining Chelsea.
She told UEFA.com: "We never feel like the game is over, and we always feel, regardless of the scoreline, that we've got a chance. That doesn't come around often in teams, that takes a while to build. This team has the making of champions, and I think deservedly we're in the final because we've been able to do exactly what we needed to in the right times."
Players to look out for:
Sam Kerr(20) and Fran Kerby(14) celebrate after scoring the third goal against Reading(via instagram/@chelseafcw)
The dynamic duo of Sam Ker and Fran Kirby, popularly known as 'Kerrby' have contributed 37 goals this season and assisted 18 more. The coordination between them is ravishing. Some might call their partnership telepathy while others might consider it chemistry. Sam Kerr even won the Golden boot for scoring 21 goals in the 2020-2021 season of WSL.
Pernille Harder after scoring in the penalty against Bayern Munich(via Instagram/@pharder10)
Pernille Harder has also provided some crucial assists and distracted the defenders to open up some free spaces for Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby to score. The mid-field is taken care of by Ji So-Yun (South Korean International) and Melanie Leupolz Guro Reiten, and Erin Cuthbert. The Captain, Magdalena Eriksson, and the vice-captain, Millie Bright ensures a tight central defense with Jonna Andersson on the left, either Jess Carter or Niam Charles being on the right. Ann-Katrine Berger is by far the best goalkeeper in the WSL. The German International has won the Golden gloves for maximum saves in the 2020-2021 season of WSL.
(via Instagram/@pharder10)
Overall, it can be rightly said that Chelsea is a cocktail of the finest players from around the world with the ultimate goal to win the Champions League!
Sadly, the television broadcasters in India will not telecast the match live. However, online platforms such as Barca Tv and uefa.tv will stream live at 12:30 am(Monday). Stay tuned!
Source: uefa.com, Instagram, and FA player
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