"German clubs ponder over their deficient rosters in comparison to this squad"
FC Barcelona on a historical run in Champions League, German clubs left to ponder
In a noteworthy display of dominance, Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona has been generating headlines across European football. Both the men's and women's teams have been making waves, with the latter on the brink of history as they vie for their third consecutive Champions League title.
The women's team will face Arsenal in the final, to be played at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on June 6 (6 pm/DAZN). A win would secure Barcelona's fourth title since 2021 and establish an intimidating streak of three consecutive wins in Europe's premier women's competition.
Leah Williamson, Arsenal defender, acknowledged the might of Barcelona, expressing nothing but admiration for their recent success. The Londoners are all too familiar with Barcelona's dominance, having suffered a loss in the 2023 final, where they fell 2:3 to the Catalan giants despite taking a 2:0 lead.
Barcelona's prowess on the pitch is underpinned by their ability to develop talent in-house at La Masia, home to stars such as Lionel Messi. They also sign top-tier talent from Europe's best leagues. Among their attacking arsenal, players like Claudia Pina, Salma Paralluelo, and Caroline Graham Hansen have been causing havoc.
Polish international Ewa Pajor, who moved to VfL Wolfsburg before the season, is also making a significant impact in her debut season with 25 goals, earning her the Pichichi trophy for the league's top scorer in Spain. Despite Barcelona's status as favorites, Pajor warns against complacency, stressing the importance of maintaining focus for the entirety of the match.
FC Bayern Munich's president, Herbert Hainer, eyes a similar level of success for their women's team. "The next step must be to break into the top of Europe," Hainer asserted, citing Barcelona as a shining example. Barcelona will certainly be aiming for a record-breaking season, having already secured the national Super Cup in January and with the Copa de la Reina final against Atlético Madrid scheduled for June 7 in Huesca.
Barcelona’s dominance in women’s football can be attributed to a variety of factors, including their possession-based style, tactical discipline, midfield mastery, attacking prowess, defensive organization, squad depth, and psychological edge. All of these aspects contribute to their record of 19 wins in the last 20 matches and their status as the team to beat in European competition.
According to reports from Deloitte, the women's teams of Barcelona and final opponent Arsenal have improved their respective revenue for the 2023/24 season. While Barcelona ranks first with €17.9 million, the Bayern trail far behind, occupying 13th place with €3.6 million. Barça is clearly leading the charge in terms of finances as well.
Sources: ntv.de, David Joram, dpa
The community policy of FC Barcelona, with its focus on nurturing talent at La Masia and signing top-tier players from Europe's best leagues, is a key factor in their dominance in women's football, both on and off the pitch. As the Champions League final approaches, clubs across Europe, including those in the German leagues, are closely watching the seesaw battle between Barcelona and Arsenal, particularly with the Spanish side aiming to create a historic three-peat in the Champions League.
