In Lyon, the new European campaign begins with an old wound still close to the surface. Olympique Lyonnais saw their bid for a record-extending ninth Women’s Champions League crown end in a 4-0 final defeat to Barcelona last season, and Caroline Weir has arrived from Real Madrid determined to help turn that disappointment into a response.
Key takeaways
- Weir joined Lyon in the summer after her spell at Real Madrid and could make her first appearance away to Servette on Wednesday.
- The 31-year-old midfielder is returning from a minor muscle problem.
- The Women’s Champions League league phase starts on Tuesday, involving 18 clubs across six matchdays.
- Barcelona have reached each of the past six finals and lifted the trophy four times in that period.
- Lyon coach Jonatan Giráldez previously guided Barcelona to two European titles.
- Club president Michele Kang’s commitment to women’s football was an important factor in Weir’s decision to move to France.
A fresh start at Lyon’s training ground
Speaking at Lyon’s training base on Monday, Weir acknowledged the scale of the previous season’s setback for the players who had made the final. Lyon had been chasing a ninth continental title, which would have taken their own competition record further out of reach, but Barcelona’s emphatic win confirmed the Spanish side as Europe’s leading force of the moment.
“The players who were here last year understand how much it took to reach that stage, and naturally they felt the disappointment of the final,” Weir said. “I am new to the group, so I am here to learn from those with that experience. The coach has also been through it all.”
Her first opportunity may come quickly. Having recovered from a small muscular issue, Weir is in contention for Lyon’s trip to Swiss club Servette on Wednesday. “It starts now,” she said.
The revised league phase will place 18 teams in action over six rounds. The leading four sides will progress directly to the quarter-finals, while teams finishing from fifth through 12th will enter a knockout play-off for the remaining places in the last eight.
Barcelona remain the continental measure
Weir knows Barcelona’s quality from close range. A prolific scorer in Spain, she recorded 20 goals last season and 28 in the 2022-23 campaign, but she also experienced Barcelona’s authority in last season’s quarter-finals, when Real Madrid were beaten 12-2 on aggregate. Weir featured in the first leg, a 6-2 home loss.
“Everyone knows how strong they are with the ball,” she said. “Their mentality comes from so much experience of winning, and that shows in how they perform. Their physical level can also be overlooked. When you examine the individuals, there is speed and strength throughout the side.”
Barcelona’s first European triumph in 2021 ended Lyon’s sequence of five straight titles. Lyon regained the trophy a year later, but have not won it since. The Catalan club have since made six consecutive finals, winning four of them, while Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí have shared the last five Ballon d’Or awards.
Weir believes Giráldez, who won the Champions League twice during his time in Barcelona, can help Lyon find a sharper edge when the biggest ties arrive. She said the coach had clearly explained both his expectations and the qualities that persuaded him to bring her in.
“He wants me to make a difference in the final third, through goals or assists,” Weir said. “At the end of the season, I will judge that impact, especially in the major matches.”
She also pointed to Kang’s presence as a decisive part of the move. “The way she speaks about the sport is truly inspiring,” Weir said. “She wants equal opportunity, and Lyon is an excellent club to be at. That mattered a lot in my choice. We have her complete support.”
