Barcelona are right in the middle of their preparations for the 2025/26 Women’s Champions League final in Oslo against Lyon, and one returner could prove to be the difference.
In her recent press conference ahead of Barcelona’s revenge tour after they missed out on last year’s title in Lisbon, Romeu announced that his star midfielder Bonmati will be involved in the showpiece.
While it is not yet clear if she will start for the Blaugrana, her return has certainly made Romeu believe that this gives his side the mental edge in this vital fixture, especially on top of the experience the team has on this stage.
Romeu trusts Barcelona’s competitive genes
He said: “They have the talent to win these games. They also understand that they have to be at their best to win any games.
“Thirdly, they have competitive genes that make them always want more. These are all present here on a daily basis.”
Barcelona’s road to the final has been completely unchallenged in a sense. They have breezed their way to this final stage losing just once in all competitions this season.
However, the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon last year does still loom over them, but we are very much still in the Barcelona era, and they hold all the cards to continue their dominance.
Learning the lessons of Lisbon
Romeu, however, understands that it doesn’t matter how good they have been all season long, as this match is decided by just 90 minutes of football, and anything can cost you.
“In that game, we didn’t stick to what we’d been doing previously. We didn’t link up much in possession and we didn’t switch the play much. We were too passive when it came to trying to win the ball back.
“Those were all aspects in which we excelled in, but if you watched the final, you would have thought our team never did that or didn’t know how to.
“You can’t understand in a Champions League final – the slightest lapse of concentration can cost you a goal.”
Romeu’s Barcelona have been the best performing club so far this season, but he knows they can’t slip up again and will need to be at their best to overcome Lyon to get their name back on the trophy – a challenge made easier by the Lyon side that edged Arsenal in the semis.