AITANA BONMATI AND Alexia Putellas struck to earn Barcelona their third women’s Champions League trophy, securing a 2-0 triumph over record eight-time winners Lyon on Saturday.
The defending champions had never beaten the French giants, losing in the 2019 and 2022 finals against them, but finally succeeded in Bilbao to compete a spectacular quadruple this season in coach Jonatan Giraldez’s last match in charge.
Bonmati pounced after 63 minutes and substitute Putellas finished the job in stoppage time to avenge Barcelona’s prior defeats by Sonia Bompastor’s side.
Securing their third Champions League trophy from five final appearances across the last six seasons, Barcelona demonstrated that they are the new powerhouse of the women’s game.
Barca stars insisted this time they were capable of beating Lyon, adding experience and mental strength to their undoubted talent, and so it proved at a packed San Mames.
Backed by the vast majority of a 51,000 record crowd at a women’s Champions League final, Bonmati and her side completed one of the few outstanding challenges remaining to them.
“It’s the first time we’ve beaten Lyon, I’m proud of the team, and we know that with these fans we have, we can’t fail,” Bonmati told DAZN.
“It’s incredible what we’re living through as a team, I’m so lucky… to see we’re creating that for so many people, the historic amount of fans we’ve brought, it’s the proudest I’ve felt, I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Giraldez started Mariona Caldentey in attack and moved Fridolina Rolfo to left-back, dropping Ona Batlle to the bench alongside two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas.
Lyon left Ada Hegerberg on the bench too, with the all-time top scorer in the competition’s history struggling for form after injury.
Lucy Bronze deflected a ball onto her own crossbar and Lyon’s towering captain Wendie Renard hit the outside of the post as Barcelona suffered a couple of early jitters.
After going four goals down by half-time in the 2019 final and three down in 2022, this time the Catalans dug deep to hold it together at the back.
Barca threatened increasingly at the other end. Patri Guijarro, who scored twice in last year’s final against Wolfsburg, broke in behind for their first big chance after half an hour.
Christiane Endler saved her effort from an angle and Selma Bacha cleared the ball off the line after it rebounded back towards goal.
Caroline Graham Hansen, in sparkling form this season, gave left-back Bacha a torrid time and had 11-time finalist Renard uncertainly backpedalling fearfully near the end of the first half, but dragged her shot wide.
Barcelona made their quality count after the hour mark when Bonmati sent them ahead.
The Ballon d’Or winner had been quiet but arrived just at the right time to collect Caldentey’s clever pass and burst into the area.
Bonmati’s low shot deflected off Vanessa Gilles and flew over the helpless Endler, for her sixth goal of the tournament and the most crucial.
Champions League top goalscorer Kadidiatou Diani curled agonisingly over for Lyon as Bompastor’s side tried to fight back. Hegerberg headed off target as Lyon’s chances ebbed away.
Eventually Putellas, on as a late substitute, put on the captain’s armband and settled the game by rifling into the top corner to get Barcelona’s celebrations started early.
Credit for once to utd showing a bit of character and coming from behind. Decent point. Never a pen at the end
@Brian Dunne: sloppy goals killing Utd. Both today avoidable. McGuire really struggled today. Bruno def has to be played beside Ugarte. Controlled the game when he went back there. Those two, Zirkee and Drugo only lads who can keep their heads high. Rest of the starters were useless.
@Brian Dunne: de ligt clearly pulls young back how var got involved was just a disgrace.but when u consider var took three minutes to try and cancel out betos goal when he obviously onside it proves its corruption at its finest ud wonder do they go to the pub beforehand and pick up the var officials
@ Brian Dunne. If that pen decison was at the other end i am sure you would be saying certain pen. eh Brian.
@Michael Carroll: no michael. I also called out ashley youngs dives while representing Manchester United
@Michael Carroll: exact same as Tarkowski one on McGuire in first half. Slight pull on the jersey and player went down way too easily(McGuire and Young). Either both a penalty or neither are.
How times have changed when you’re devastated to draw with Manchester United
@Fergus O’Connor: new stadium new times?
Yeah fantastic point for Utd-it has to be said. Still sitting pretty in 15th!
@John arse: very very poor this year and ne same again next year
I admire the ref for changing his mind,It doesn’t happen a lot but come on, Who falls down like that
Couldn’t see that happening after 60 odd minutes. Take the point and run. Point more towards safety
@Dessie: Dessie, we’ve a fella on here who’d tell you you have to take the point, that’s what happens after a draw.
Everton are no mugs since Moyes came back.
@ecrowley ecrowley: paulie
@Dessie: Good sum off the game in fairness
Awful for 70 mins,complete contrast for the remainder,never a pen,young has been doing that for over 20 yrs,he is some pro! Onana useless for the 2nd and his parry for the pen, big harry had a torrid game,de ligt is a poor player, roll on Ipswich,a win and united will be safe, how the mighty have fallen
@Declan O Connor: I admire your optimism that you think united will beat Ipswich on Wednesday!
@Brian Dunne: Will the game be considered a relegation scrap? I can see Ipswich give United a fright, but United should have enough, are they willing to fight for it though?
@Graham: I think united should be safe. 12 points I think off the bottom 3? Can’t see any of the bottom teams making that up. Still wouldn’t bet on them on wed, especially at home.
@Brian Dunne: I think, this season for United, the way it’s been for them, they are very lucky there are 3 very bad teams below them in the league.
@Brian Dunne: I wouldn’t put any of my own money on it Brian
The pen would have been very soft but I’m surprised the ref changed his mind on it given it was awarded to begin with You can see both players tugging the shirt. The main angle shown to him on the screen wasn’t probably the one he needed either. Not to say it should have been a pen, but I’m not convinced that VAR actually functioned here. Maybe the right result was achieved I suppose but I wouldn’t say it clarifies much about VAR
Is it just me or can anyone else see there is a problem when Casimero is being paid 4 hundred thousand euro a week.
@Jp Cleary: yeah and he cost 60 million and now they can’t get rid of him!
Abysmal for over an hour. Hojlund goes off and suddenly start playing football.
Coincidence? I expect not
Cant believe we lost all 3 points utd were awfull