1. FFC Frankfurt-Paris Saint-Germain final preview

• Frankfurt, in record sixth final, aim to become first four-time European champions
• Paris make debut in final but without suspended Caroline Seger and Kheira Hamraoui
• Paris injury doubts Fatmire Alushi, Josephine Henning and Laura Georges all trained
• Frankfurt's Colin Bell hopeful Verónica Boquete can overcome ankle knock
• Farid Benstiti says victory would be "exceptional" for the French club

It may be a mismatch in terms of UEFA Women's Champions League final experience when 1. FFC Frankfurt play Paris Saint-Germain at Berlin's Friedrich-Jahn-Sportpark on Thursday but there looks to be little between the teams.

Frankfurt, the sole three-time winners, are in a record sixth final while Paris have never got beyond the round of 16 before. But on their way to Berlin, Paris knocked out the two sides that have won the last four editions between them – Olympique Lyonnais and VfL Wolfsburg – and their squad includes plenty of past European club champions, not least Germans Josephine Henning, Annike Krahn, Linda Bresonik and Fatmire Alushi.

Two Paris players are suspended including Caroline Seger, who lost last season's final with Tyresö FF alongside Verónica Boquete, now with Frankfurt but an injury dobut. However, Paris coach Farid Benstiti says Seger's absence only motivates his players more while Frankfurt's Colin Bell also struck an upbeat tone.

Possible lineups
Frankfurt: Schumann; Garefrekes, Priessen, Kuznik, Hendrich, Crnogorčević; Bartusiak, Laudehr; Marozsán; Šašić, Boquete/Huth.
• Out: Kim Kulig (knee)
• Doubtful: Verónica Boquete (ankle)

Paris: Kiedrzynek; Houara-D’Hommeaux, Delannoy, Krahn, Boulleau; Bresonik, Cruz Traña; Dali, Asllani, Kaci; Delie.
• Out: Caroline Seger (suspended), Kheira Hamraoui (suspended)
• Doubtful: Fatmire Alushi (ankle), Josephine Henning (thigh), Laura Georges (musclular)

Colin Bell, Frankfurt coach
We started our preparations a few days ago. The excitement is growing, especially after our game against Wolfsburg last Sunday and after our arrival here. Now we can enjoy this atmosphere and we try to take as much as we can out of it and to experience the moment. We hope to make it a great game and we are really looking forward to it.

We hope that Vero [Boquete] can play. It says everything about her motivation when she says she would even play on one leg if necessary. But I think she will be able to play. All the players from Frankfurt and Paris will have this kind of motivation and approach going into that final.

[Top scorer Célia] Šašić has cancelled her contract, but that doesn't necessarily mean she won't play at Frankfurt next season. I have worked with her for four years on a day-by-day basis and it's fine for me if she wants to take some time to think about it after a tough season. I am confident she will join our training camp on 1 August. We will see when the time comes, but none of this is a factor tomorrow.

It's good to be able to talk to girls who have experience of finals or World Cups or EUROs [ahead of Bell's first European final]. For me it is a career highlight to be involved in such a game, I'm thrilled. Some girls have more experience, for some it's the first time, how that works out we shall see on the day.

Farid Benstiti (right) speaks to the media©AFP/Getty Images

Farid Benstiti, Paris coach
I think it is one of the objectives for our club, to win a major trophy. And I think the Women's Champions League is a major trophy. It's one of our objectives, even if we gave priority to the league, but let's not forget that in our league we have maybe the best team in the world [Lyon]. To reach the Women's Champions League final is exceptional, because I think we are a bit ahead of schedule in achieving this.

So winning this trophy for the club and for the investors ... actually I am not thinking in terms of investors or management, I am thinking about a bunch of people working together to reach a common goal for Paris Saint-Germain. It would be exceptional to win the Champions League, not for being ahead of the boys but simply because it would be the reward for our very hard work. So if it happens tomorrow, it would be great for the girls.

It's very frustrating not to have Caroline with us. It's about her influence – we will miss her because she is a technical leader first of all – but most of all it's that she lost a final last year and I think her ultimate motivation was to be able to play a second consecutive final and have the opportunity to finally win it. We will do our best to honour the fact Caroline won't be with us.

We will wait until our final training session, but things are going well for Josephine Henning and Laura Georges, and we will need them. It's true that they've been lacking some minutes, it's been a while since they played, so it might not be enough. I will make the decision tonight on the pitch, as to whether they will start the game or not.

Record on way to final
Frankfurt W7 D1 L0 F40 A2
Paris W6 D1 L1 F15 A4

Weekend results
Frankfurt 1-1 VfL Wolfsburg (Boquete 7; Müller 54): Frankfurt finish third
Arras FCF 0-3 Paris (Hamraoui 53, Delie 72, Lahmari 90): Paris finish second

Competition top scorers
Frankfurt: Célia Šašić 13
Paris: Fatmire Alushi, Shirley Cruz Traña, Sabrina Delannoy, Marie-Laure Delie 2

Past meetings
2011/12 round of 16:
Frankfurt 3-0 Paris
Paris 2-1 Frankfurt

Match fact
• Which current Paris player scored against them for Frankfurt in that 2011/12 tie? Find out in our extensive match background.