REUNITED. Champions League Final is Lyon v Barcelona. Of course it is.

Ex-Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giráldez and ex-Barça centre-back Ingrid Engen are now at OL Lyonnes. So maybe it was inevitable that they’d face their old friends in their old team in the showpiece final of the UWCL / UEFA Women’s Champions League. And indeed they do, this Saturday in Oslo.

Both Giráldez and Engen speak with excited anticipation ahead of the final, along with seasoned OL Lyonnes midfielder Damaris Egurrola.

Barcelona have Aitana Bonmati back from injury, Alexia on imperious form, with Patri the pivot who sees everything. Then add in the sparkling youthful attacking talent in Vicky Lopez, Sydney Schertenleib, Salma Paralluelo and Claudia Pina, behind the prolific centre-forward Ewa Pajor.

Plus you cannot neglect the endless overlaps on either flank from the tireless Ona Batlle and Esmee Brugts. So it’s hard to see how anyone ever beats Barça. But no-one thought Arsenal could do that in last season’s final in Lisbon, and they did.

So can Lyonnes be the Catalans’ nemesis this time round? They have the unbelievable, generational talent of Melchie Dumornay running things, with the likes of Jule Brand and Lily Yohannes buzzing around the edge of the box. Add in the threat of Lindsey Heaps and Wendie Renard from Selma Bacha’s set-pieces and it’s a potent mix.

Lyon certainly know Barça well, with their ex-head coach Jona Giráldez and ex-centre back (and occasional midfielder) Ingrid Engen collectively holding years of knowledge.

Basically the French side need not resort to Southampton or Canada-style spying to know what to expect as two exciting coaches in Lyon’s Giráldez and Barça’s Pere Romeu face off…

First I speak to OL Lyonnes head coach Jonatan Giráldez (above, left):

Since you were at Barcelona – obviously you watch them all the time – I wonder how much you think they’ve changed under Pere Romeu?

Tactically speaking, they have different players. For example, they have Ewa Pajor (above, centre). When I was there, we didn’t have a number 9, like, Pajor.

We had a different profile of players. I remember my last final, I played with Mariona as a number 9 (above, right), but with different profile.

So I think they have changed a little bit in the way that they play, because the profile of the players is a little bit different. So finally, players dictate the way that they have to play.

In terms of identity, I think it’s the same. They try to dominate all games, try to create as many chances as possible, forget the result, always try to give good entertainment to the supporters, and then being very, very aggressive out of possession.

Honestly, I don’t think that they have changed a lot, just the profile of the players is a little bit different, so that means that they have to play a little bit different. Why? Because the profile of the players is different.

When I spoke to you at the Emirates after the first leg of the semifinal against Arsenal, you said that you lost it because a) Arsenal were better, and b) because Lyon didn’t play for the whole 90 minutes. You said they played in patches, and there were 10 minutes or so where you didn’t. Is that something you’ve been able to get across to the players now, to play across the whole 90 minutes?

Yes, for sure, because if not, you cannot win games, and we saw that in the first leg against Arsenal we didn’t deserve to win that game. We were winning the game the first half, but finally we didn’t deserve to. Why? Because we didn’t play the second 45 minutes. And to win foreign games, as we did against Arsenal in the second leg, yes, we competed 90 minutes.

And we saw another different team, and we were able to score a lot of goals. So this is the team that we have to see. To play finals, to win titles, you need to be perfect, but be close to the perfection, to have more chances to win the game.

How does it feel to be the underdogs? Because Lyon are always the favourites, apart from in this game.

I don’t know who is the underdog, honestly, because I don’t follow a lot of the media.

So, for me, it’s a 50-50 final. There is a huge, for me, quality in both sides, in both teams, and I don’t see any favouritism.

I think both teams have amazing talented squads, the style of play, for sure is gonna be a top entertainment for the supporters.

Hearing from Norwegian defender Ingrid Engen (above, left and centre) is equally illuminating:  

For Ingrid Engen, it’s all about old friends, having played for Barcelona in the last couple of finals, and previously for Champions League perennials, Wolfsburg, she knows how to cope with the pressure and emotions of a huge final.

Especially this one, taking place in Oslo, in her native Norway, with abundant friends and family in attendance. And no doubt her national teammates – for Lyon Ada Hegerberg and for Barça Caroline Graham Hansen – will also have their own posses of pals in the crowd.

Engen is honest in saying that Lyon haven’t always been perfect – thinking back to the away losses at Wolfsburg and Arsenal – but says they bring confidence from having overcome both these big teams in the second legs.

She says that “everything will be about winning this trophy” and she cannot wait to see teammates like Melchie Dumornay (below, centre left) – arguably the best player in Europe right now – and the on-form Jule Brand shine on Saturday.

On Barcelona, she admits that she knows them all too well, but also knows how hard it is to stop them, but she’s going to try her best, especially up against someone like Patri (above, right with Aitana) who she calls “one of the greatest players I have shared a pitch with.” And she simply cannot wait for Saturday!

Finally I speak to Dutch midfielder Damaris Egurrola (above, centre) about the changes at Lyon and the mood around the final:

I wanted to ask you about one of Lyon’s new players this season, and the difference it feels she’s made to the squad: the teenager Lily Yohannes.

I mean, I think she’s an amazing talent. Since the time she arrived, we’re all really impressed with what she can do in trainings and games.

We’re really lucky to have her, and it’s only the beginning, so I’m really excited for what she can give us now and also in the future, and I think she’s been doing amazing.

When it’s a big occasion like this – and you’ve obviously played in lots of big games across your career – is it possible to actually enjoy the experience of being in a high-pressured final like this?

Yeah, I do think so. I remember my first final, many of the most experienced players came to me, like: you should enjoy the week of it.

Because the day of the game, it’s all about preparing the game, but the week of, of course, you’re preparing.

Also to try to enjoy that moment, and that’s what I’m doing now, and also try to transmit that to the new players, or the players that don’t have as much experience of that, because I think it’s something unique and beautiful too, to experience the whole week.

How you start the week until you really travel to Oslo in this case, and you stick together all the way to the day of the final, and then you just play the final.

You just mentioned about new people coming in, so how has the Lyon style changed this season?

I think, not so much change. We’re really lucky to have an amazing squad as we have this year, a lot of talented players that came, also a mix of more experienced players that have been here longer, and also a new coach and new staff, so different ideas, of course.

So I think it was a perfect match, and we got to understand each other very fast in the season, and that’s why we’re performing so well right now in the end of the season…

Watch the UWCL / UEFA Women’s Champions League Final on Saturday – on Disney+ and BBC in the UK – and check out your broadcaster at https://wheretowatch.uefa.com/