Barcelona seeks its first win against powerhouse Lyon in Women's Champions League final

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will need to find a way to get past the most successful club in women’s soccer if it wants to build on its recent dominance in the sport.

The Catalan club will be playing in its fourth straight Women’s Champions League final on Saturday in Bilbao against record eight-time champion Lyon, the nemesis it has never been able to beat.

The titleholders from Spain have a shot at a statement victory by finally overcoming the storied French club and winning its third European title — all within a four-season span.

Lyon, meanwhile, will be hoping to reclaim the trophy after not getting past the quarterfinals last season and seeing the hype grow about Barcelona and its star players Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, who have won back-to-back player of the year awards.

“We’re coming up against a Barcelona team that is a really tidy European side, and they are the holders, so we know, above all, to respect all of our opponents,” said Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor, the first woman to win the title both as a player and coach.