They say that the third time is the charm. Three, a number considered magical since time immemorial. A special number for the human mind. A number found in many patterns and structures in nature. A complete number, since it has a beginning, a middle and an end, similar to the structure of a story.
Barça and Olympique de Lyon They have their own history in the Champions League. Always, until now, with a happy ending for the French, queens of the competition with eight titles in their cabinets. And the Blaugranas will seek to make good the saying mentioned in the first line of this text.
The beginning of the story was in 2019, in the final in Budapest, Barça’s first. A 4-1 for Lyon, with a hat-trick from Ada Hegerberg and a goal from Maroszán, also from Oshoala. And a turning point, because it was the beginning of everything that came after. Five finals in six years and two titles.
The development of the story came in 2022, in Turin. The year in which Barça finally and for the first time saw itself capable of beating Lyon, after having a spectacular season and two world records at the Camp Nou. It could not be. Everything went wrong. 1-3 for Olympique, with goals from Henry, Hegerberg and Macario, also from Alexia. The ghosts of the past appeared.
And on May 25, Barça and Lyon will meet in their third final. Due to the rival, the context and the history, it is the most important game that the Blaugranas will play so far. The opportunity to give a definitive blow to the table and to put an end to those ‘almost’ and ‘but’, to get rid of that thorn that the team has of never having beaten its eternal rival in Europe. And what could it mean, if the Cup final is won the previous week, the much desired ‘poker’.
In the culé locker room there is desire, as well as respect, for this final. He is the most desired rival, because of the adrenaline that he represents, and at the same time the most difficult that they have ever faced. They know it won’t be easy at all. But also that it is time to do it. The team has been improving, little by little, in recent years. And in this season especially, although also in the final stretch of the last one, they have learned to compete also when everything is against, which is what was missing in Turin.
This Champions It would be the end of a perfect story for Jonatan Giráldez, for Sandra Paños, for Oshoala -I would also count it in the record- and for the players -if there are more, now it is still a mystery- that they do not continue next year.
The ‘theory of two’, born on Twitter last season, became a reality with the second Champions League in Eindhoven and the players appeared on the cover of this medium the next day with the trophy and the symbol of two – and victory – with the fingers. Now the motto is: ‘Third time’s the charm, right?’ The context is perfect, it is being played at home and everything indicates that there will be a record displacement and that Bilbao will be Barça. Why not?