Barcelona defend Women’s Champions League title with victory against Lyon
Barcelona defended their Women’s Champions League title and completed a remarkable quadruple by defeating record eight-time winners Lyon in an exhilarating final in Bilbao.
Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring in the second half when her deflected strike beat goalkeeper Christiane Endler at the near post.
Minutes after being introduced, Alexia Putellas sealed the victory for Barcelona with a clinical finish in stoppage time.
This win marked the first time Barcelona had beaten Lyon, avenging their final defeat in 2022.
In manager Jonatan Giraldez’s final European match in charge, Barcelona dominated possession as expected but were initially frustrated by Lyon’s resilient defense.
Caroline Graham Hansen was a standout performer, creating numerous opportunities for Barca and consistently troubling Lyon’s backline, eventually leading to the breakthrough.
Graham Hansen missed the far post in the first half and was thwarted by a crucial challenge from Selma Bacha later on, after teammate Patri Guijarro had tested Endler.
Lyon, with manager Sonia Bompastor poised to replace Emma Hayes at Chelsea, had their own opportunities. They hit the crossbar when England defender Lucy Bronze nearly deflected a corner into her own net, and both Wendie Renard and Kadidiatou Diani came close to scoring.
Ada Hegerberg, the competition’s all-time leading scorer, was only fit enough for Lyon’s bench due to a calf injury. She was introduced with 10 minutes of normal time remaining but couldn’t help her team find an equalizer.
England internationals Bronze and Keira Walsh were among those who collected winner’s medals for Barcelona, making them just the third club to win the Women’s Champions League three times.
Putellas’ emotional contribution
No team has won more European titles than Lyon’s eight, and they have consistently been formidable competition for Barcelona.
The Spanish giants, who have dominated European football in recent seasons and were competing in their fifth final in six years, faced a tough challenge in their semi-final win over Chelsea. They knew they needed to be at their best to overcome Lyon.
Both sides were cautious in the first half. Barcelona tested Lyon’s defense but lacked a finishing touch, while Bompastor’s team struggled to generate energy when they had possession.
It seemed inevitable that the game would open up, and it did when Bonmati’s shot deflected in off Vanessa Gilles.
A frantic finish ensued as Barcelona fought physically to preserve their lead, and Lyon took risks in search of an equalizer.
However, it was Barcelona who were energized by the introduction of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas. Fresh from signing a contract extension with the club, she capped off an emotional year, following her recovery from an ACL injury, by helping her team conquer Europe once again.
End of an era under Giraldez
Barcelona manager Jonatan Giraldez’s final European match in charge, before he takes over American side Washington Spirit, did not disappoint. He currently boasts a 93% win rate, with two league games still remaining for Barca.
Giraldez’s Barcelona tenure has been immensely successful. He initially served as assistant manager to former boss Lluis Cortes before taking over and leading the team to back-to-back European titles.
This latest victory was the perfect send-off, marking the end of a dominant era for Barcelona. Changes among players and the manager could be on the horizon this summer.
Speaking to DAZN afterwards, Giraldez said: “It was an incredible game. I am really happy. It’s one of the best days of my life for sure.
“We did an amazing job. I am very proud. When I decided in December to leave the club, people criticised [and said] that maybe the performances were going down.
“We showed today the amazing performance we have and deserved the victory.”
In the opposition dugout, Lyon boss Bompastor is also set to be on the move and could be named Chelsea manager in the coming days.
“It’s not the right moment to talk about it,” she said afterwards.
“I’m really disappointed and that’s the main thing for me.”
During her time at Lyon, the French giants have upset Barcelona but they were beaten by the better side in Bilbao and did not have enough to claw their way back into the game when they fell behind.
This was Lyon’s 11th appearance in the final and they have lost just three of them. Defeat is an unfamiliar feeling and they were dejected as they picked up their runners-up medals.
“We have a great disappointment,” Bompastor added. “We have lost a final and it’s tough now. In these moments you have to recognise that Barcelona had a great match and deserved to be the winners, although it’s hard to accept it.
“I am disappointed for my players because we worked really hard and wanted to finish this season with a new title and a new Champions League.”