Barcelona begin defence of Women's Champions League title
Barcelona have become the dominant force in European women's club football in recent seasons, appearing in four of the last five Champions League finals. They have won two of those, including last season when they came from two goals down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 in Eindhoven.
Since then several Barca stars have become World Cup winners, with six players from the club starting in Spain's victory over England in Sydney in August while Alexia Putellas came off the bench. Bonmati, the standout player in last season's Champions League, was also named the best player at the World Cup before succeeding Putellas as winner of the Ballon d'Or.
"It is difficult to improve on this. It has honestly been a unique year," Bonmati said as she claimed that latter award. Her Barcelona and Spain teammate Salma Paralluelo came third in the Ballon d'Or ranking, while Sweden's Fridolina Rolfo, also of Barca, was fourth.
Given their recent record and the quality of their squad, it would be a surprise if Jonatan Giraldez's team did not reach this season's final, in Bilbao next May. They are in Group A with Swedish champions Rosengard, Portuguese champions Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany.
Elsewhere, Lyon will be desperate to reclaim a crown they had won six times in seven years before last season. The perennial French champions lost in the quarter-finals on penalties to Chelsea and there have been changes at the club since then. Lyon were bought by American entrepreneur Michele Kang, meaning they are now a separate entity from the Olympique Lyonnais men's side.
They continue to boast a fearsome squad that should allow them to compete, with a spine of Chile goalkeeper Christiane Endler, France centre-back Wendie Renard, US midfielder Lindsey
Read on besoccer.com
