Barcelona looks for third straight title

Associated Press Madrid: Barcelona will go for its third straight Women's Champions League title with a squad boosted by Poland's star striker Ewa Pajor and with Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas playing on new contracts. The group stage of the European club competition begins Tuesday and the Catalans are trying to become only the second team after Lyon to win three titles in a row or reach five straight finals. Barcelona beat Lyon in last season's final, when Ballon d'Or winners Bonmatí and Putellas scored a goal each. Both had their contracts with the club extended ahead of the new season, and now they will have Pajor as a teammate.

Pajor, who joined from Wolfsburg, was the competition's top scorer in 2022-23 as the German club reached a final that it lost to Barcelona despite a goal by her. In her nine seasons with Wolfsburg, Pajor won 14 titles and scored 136 goals despite a series of injuries. She was not able to win a Champions League crown even though she played in three finals and was part of a run to another. Barcelona has also added Kika Nazareth from Portuguese club Benfica. The team's first game in the competition this season will be on Wednesday against Group D rival Manchester City.