![\"Jonatan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/vfl-wolfsburg-v-ol-lyonnes-uefa-womens-champions-league-2025-26-quarter-finals-first-leg-2-scaled.jp.webp\" "\\"Jonatan")
\nJonatan Giraldez applauds fans after the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025\/26 Quarter-finals First Leg match between VfL Wolfsburg and OL Lyonnes on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Stuart Franklin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nJonatan Giraldez applauds fans after the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025\/26 Quarter-finals First Leg match between VfL Wolfsburg and OL Lyonnes on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Stuart Franklin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Jonatan Gir\u00e1ldez is ready for OL Lyonnes\u2019 blockbuster clash against his former side FC Barcelona in the final of the UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The final \u2014 which will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo \u2014 will be the first contested between the two sides since the 2023\/24 final.<\/p>\n
In Bilbao, Barcelona stunned the tournament\u2019s record-holders with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Ballon d\u2019Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmat\u00ed ensured the Spanish side took home their third UWCL title.<\/p>\n
The sides haven\u2019t met one since then but they are both heading into Saturday\u2019s final high on confidence. Last time out, Barca beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 to take home another Copa de la Reina title. Meanwhile, OL Lyonnes dismantled Nantes 8-0, which saw Ada Hegerberg net a hat-trick.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, it\u2019s time for preparation,\u201d Lyon head coach Gir\u00e1ldez told the media. \u201cTry to have a good iteration, preparation, activation, and what we have to do before the game and what we can control.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we can\u2019t play this evening. We have to prepare for the game and that\u2019s the priority to understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why did Jonatan Gir\u00e1ldez return to Europe?<\/p>\n
In 2019, the 34-year-old joined the coaching ranks at Barcelona under Llu\u00eds Cort\u00e9s\u2019 leadership. He spent three years as a technical assistant and with a keen tactical eye, he was heavily involved with game strategy. <\/p>\n
During this period, the Spaniard helped the side win their first Champions League title in 2021 against Chelsea. Cort\u00e9s then departed the club and Gir\u00e1ldez was promoted to head coach.<\/p>\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n After three successful years at the helm, which included winning 10 titles, he left European football. Moving across the pond, Gir\u00e1ldez went on to manage Washington Spirit in the National Women\u2019s Soccer League. However, the allure of the Champions League meant a return to Europe was always on the cards.<\/p>\n \u201cFor us, it\u2019s [the final] the most important game in the season that we have played. We are very happy, very proud to have to opportunity to play this game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Despite the blockbuster final, Gir\u00e1ldez insists he doesn\u2019t like \u2018to change\u2019 his preparation for these high-pressure matchups. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have to do, is do the same thing that we were doing in the past. We don\u2019t have to change the environment around players, we just need to understand what we have to do as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n How many UWCL titles do OL Lyonnes have?<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n OL Lyonnes have long been hailed the \u2018Queens of Europe\u2019 due to their record eight European titles. Captain Wendie Renard has been present for all of these victories and it\u2019s experience like this which could help drive a new-look Lyon side to their ninth title. <\/p>\n Gir\u00e1ldez said: \u201cBased on my experience, I have played this type of games many times. So, I guess I can give some advice, but also we have several players, who have very good voice displays and experience to explain to the players how we have to face these types of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the younger players, who could be key for OL Lyonnes this weekend include Melchie Dumornay, who joined the club in 2023.<\/p>\n Dumornay is just 22 years old and has quickly cemented herself as one of the most prolific attackers in world football. Her late assist in the semi-final proved decisive for beating reigning champions Arsenal, who struggled to replicate their first leg performance.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n In the 2024 final, the Haitian started as a striker for the French club, but has been utilised deeper under Gir\u00e1ldez\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n \u201cI think she has a good understanding of the game, receiving between the lines, but is also a player who likes to go to the side,\u201d the manager said. \u201cShe\u2019s a player who likes to be a second striker and who likes to drop when the team needs more support from the build-up situations. And defensively she\u2019s a top player, so, for me, she\u2019s a key player because she\u2019s capable to do different things.\u201d<\/p>\n Facing his former side<\/p>\n From his time in Spain, Gir\u00e1ldez is familiar with the Barcelona set-up and also their new head coach, Pere Romeu. However, despite his historic ties with the club, Gir\u00e1ldez confirms that preparing to beat them has not been \u2018strange\u2019.<\/p>\n Despite preparation following his usual routine, the manager admits Barcelona are a very different side to when he was in charge.<\/p>\n \u201cTactically speaking, they have very different players for example Ewa Pajor,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I was there, we didn\u2019t have a number nine like Ewa Pajor, we had a different profile of players. I remember my last final, I played with Mariona Caldentey as a number nine.\u201d<\/p>\n However, in terms of identity the side is much the \u2018same\u2019.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThey try to dominate all the game and try to create as many chances as possible. Forget the result, they always try to give good entertainment to the supporters, and then they\u2019re very aggressive out of possession.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t think that they have changed a lot, just the profile of the players is a little bit different, so that means that they play a little different.\u201d<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n What will be key for OL Lyonnes against Barcelona?<\/p>\n Set pieces have been vital for OL Lyonnes on their journey to the final. We have seen a variety of deliveries and routines which is something the side have been working on. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it 30 or 40 percent of our goals that are coming from set pieces, so they are key,\u201d Gir\u00e1ldez said. \u201cThis week there is a special mention to this type of work in free kicks, lateral free kicks, and corners.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside set pieces, playing for the full 90 minutes is also crucial. After their first leg semi-final defeat against Arsenal, Gir\u00e1ldez admitted his side didn\u2019t play for the full duration, but rather performed in patches.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the first leg against Arsenal, we didn\u2019t deserve to win that game. We were winning the game in the first half but we didn\u2019t deserve it because we didn\u2019t play in the second 45 minutes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo win these sort of games, we compete the 90 minutes. To play finals, to win titles, you need to be perfect or be close to the perfection to have more chances to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n