“We are unbeatable when we feel this hunger,” says Wilms as Wolfsburg prepare for huge Barça clash

Lynn Wilms says VfL Wolfsburg are prepared to enter their UEFA Women’s Champions League clash with Barcelona – a repeat of their agonising 2023 final defeat – as underdogs.

The Wolfsburg and Netherlands defender spoke to the media following Friday’s quarter-final draw, which pits her side against reigning champions Barça in a two-legged matchup on 19th and 27th March.

“I think we are the underdog in this game,” Wilms admitted. “We play against the big Barcelona. But we want to win from everyone. We were hungry against Roma as well [who they beat 6-1 in a group game], and we are unbeatable when we feel this hunger. When we put it all on the line, then it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a surprising, crazy game.”

Wolfsburg have not won the UWCL since 2014 and last reached the final in 2023, when they agonisingly lost out to Barcelona after leading 2-0 through Ewa Pajor (now at Barça) and Alexandra Popp. A brace from Patricia Guijarro and a goal from Fridolina Rolfö saw their opponents recover in the second half and lift the trophy.

“I still think about games I would like to change, it is a game I would like to play again,” the 24-year-old said – “this is a new challenge. It’s a new day. It’s in the past.”

The two sides have faced off six times in the UWCL – including in the semi-finals in 2021/22. That affair saw Barça demolish Wolfsburg 5-1 at Camp Nou in the first leg, meaning the German side’s 2-0 win in the second leg was not enough to take them to the final.

“We want to win. That’s the most important thing. And give everything. That’s what we want to do differently [from when they played Barcelona at Camp Nou last time]. If we are behind, don’t stress, calm down and focus on ourselves. We have two chances.”

“When we played in Barça, we gave almost all our chances away. We lost with so many goals. But at the end of the day you have two chances to do something in this round of the Champions League. We want to win it with all we’ve got, and then win it fully. But also, if it’s not your day, sometimes this happens, it’s football, then don’t lose it with too many goals [to be able to make up for it in the second leg].”

“It’s a good opponent,” Wilms reflected, “but we could’ve drawn Chelsea or Arsenal, [so] we were going to have a difficult draw anyways. I think they are all top teams. We want to measure ourselves with the top.” 

Wilms, who has 48 caps for her country and has provided two assists in four UWCL starts this season, has a packed calendar ahead with tests against Bayern Munich in the Frauen-Bundesliga and Barça on the European stage. Those challenges have come at the right time for the Dutch international, who said:“I’m in form. I have a good feeling about myself at the moment, I’m playing good.”

“We have a lot of games, but I like to play a lot, three times a week, and just to stay in the rhythm. And I am very much looking forward to the European Championships [this summer] as well.”

Last season was the first time Wolfsburg had ever failed to reach the competition’s quarter-finals. Reflecting on their 2024/25 campaign so far, Wilms said: “For me personally, I feel very good. I feel fit and healthy. And feel like I can accelerate myself more in the team now. I can really help the team. I am very grateful and happy for that.”

Wolfsburg are currently third in the Frauen-Bundesliga behind Bayern and Eintracht Frankfurt, and are looking to reclaim the title – which Bayern have won for the past two seasons.

“In terms of the team, in the beginning we had ups and downs, and then we changed the structure. Now we are very much in it, it’s going very well. We could have done better against Köln last weekend [a 0-0 draw], we weren’t good enough, but we have a lot of quality in the team. And I think we can really surprise this year.”

VfL Wolfsburg will play the first leg at home on 19th March at 17:45 GMT (18:45 CET) and the second in Catalunya at the same time on 27th March.