Ingrid Engen: UWCL final vs former side Barcelona is ‘about the football and nothing else’ | OneFootball

OL Lyonnes star Ingrid Engen is preparing to face former club Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, having lifted the trophy twice with the Catalan side.

Alongside her two UWCL titles, the Norway international has claimed 15 other major trophies in her career so far. This weekend, she will challenge for a third European title with new club Lyon.

The European powerhouses have held the UWCL title a record eight times and will be searching for a ninth against Barcelona on Saturday. Meanwhile, Barca will be looking to reclaim their crown after relinquishing it to Arsenal last season.

Ingrid Engen and Jonatan Giráldez prepare to face former club Barcelona

Engen isn’t the only familiar name preparing to face former club Barcelona. OL Lyonnes manager Jonatan Giráldez managed the three-time UWCL champions between 2021 and 2024, and was a coach at the club prior to that.

“He has his ideas of how he wants his team to play, a lot of these things I recognise and remember from when we were at Barcelona together,” Engen said when asked about Giráldez managing her at both clubs.

“Obviously he’s adapted to the players we have here. He’s managing to play his type of football with his ideas, but of course with a focus on the strengths we have here at this team and the players that we have.”

BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 25: Jonatan Giraldez, at San Mames Stadium on May 25, 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Friendships and loyalties put away for the UWCL final

Not only did Engen win the UWCL twice with Barcelona during her four-year stay, she also lifted the Liga F trophy four times, alongside five other domestic titles in a hugely successful era. That being said, there’s no doubt of her ties to the city, the club and its players and staff.

“I think that in the game, you manage to turn everything else off,” Engen said. “I think then, once the game starts it’s about the football and nothing else. Because of this I know them [the players] well. I also know what level they are and how good the players really are.

“It’s going to be very, very interesting and obviously special to share the pitch with them. But, in the game, it’s all about winning. For both teams.”

Experience to draw upon

There is no shortage of experience Engen can call upon. It will be the third team the Norwegian international has played for in a European final, having previously won with Barcelona and also lost in a UWCL final with VfL Wolfsburg.

“I’m very proud to have reached this many finals with the teams I’ve played with,” Engen said. “I think it also shows my ambitions and choices in the clubs I’ve chosen. I want to be where you really fight for the European title and I’ve been very lucky and privileged to be in these three top teams in European football.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – AUGUST 30: Ingrid Syrstad Engen of VfL Wolfsburg walks past the UEFA Women’s Champions League Trophy following her team’s defeat in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final between VfL Wolfsburg Women’s and Olympique Lyonnais at Estadio Anoeta on August 30, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Barrientos/Pool via Getty Images)

“The thing that is different this time is, for myself, I have the experience. I think that’s the thing, knowing how to prepare. How to confront a final like this. It’s a special part of it that it happens to be against my old team, obviously, but that makes it maybe more special than before.

“I think I know how to deal with all the feelings and how to prepare myself as well as possible ahead of Saturday.”

An Oslo homecoming for Norwegian stars

Norway boasts some of the greatest footballers currently in the game, so it’s no surprise that so many will be playing in the UWCL final hosted in Oslo.

OL Lyonnes have three Norwegian stars in Engen, 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, and youth prospect Elida Kolbjørnsen. Barcelona also have Norway legend Caroline Graham Hansen, who has scored more than 50 international goals for her country.

“I think just this whole season, we [Engen and Hegerberg] have been thinking, it is so important to reach this final,” Engen admitted. “To be able to live this final. Obviously when you start the game everything will be about winning this trophy for the club and fans. We are so happy to be able to just live through this final, in our country, in a stadium where we are so familiar. We will have lots of friends and family there, it will definitely be a very special occasion for me.”

STAVANGER, NORWAY – MARCH 7: (l-r), Ingrid Syrstad Engen of Norway, Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway, Justine Kielland of Norway at Lyse Arena on March 7, 2026 in Stavanger, Norway. (Photo by Marius Nordnes / Nordnes Foto/Getty Images)

How to watch the UWCL final between Barcelona and OL Lyonnes

The final will be held at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Saturday, 23rd May. Swedish referee Tess Olofsson will helm the match between Barcelona and OL Lyonnes.

You can view the UEFA Women’s Champions League final live on Disney+ as part of existing customer subscriptions.

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