Barcelona 2-0 Lyon: Jonatan Giraldez’s side claim back-to-back Women’s Champions League titles… as goals from Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas seal victory

Beating Lyon in the Champions League final was about the only thing this Barcelona team failed to do.

The French team has been the powerhouse of women’s football between 2011 and 2022 – winning a record eight European trophies and beating Barça twice in the final – 4-1 in 2019 and 3-1 in 2022.

The tide had turned, with Barca beating Chelsea to claim a first victory of 2021, but this defeat against Lyon in 2022 showed that they still had work to do.

Even when they reclaimed their crown with a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg last season, having true dominance means winning again and again.

It was therefore fitting that Aitana Bonmati, the best player in the world, gave Barça the lead before Alexia Putellas, the former Ballon d’Or winner, sealed the match in injury time.

Barcelona won their second consecutive Women’s Champions League title on Saturday.

Goals from Aitana Bonmati (centre) and Alexia Putellas both scored to help Barca seal victory

Bonmati opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, his shot deflecting off Vanessa Gilles into the Lyon goal.

The Catalans are now three-time European winners and have won a quadruple for the first time in their history. They have five left to play to equal Lyon’s record, but this victory at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao looks like a changing of the guard.

Barca are now the best team in the world – and it seems inevitable that this won’t be the last time they lift this trophy. There was quality everywhere on the pitch and on the bench, with Putellas only coming on in stoppage time before his goal.

For England star Lucy Bronze, it is her fifth European trophy, the defender having won three with Lyon before back-to-back victories with Barça. It’s also a second for her England teammate Keira Walsh.

Of course, this was not the end desired by Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor. Although her departure is not yet confirmed, she is expected to be announced as Chelsea’s new manager in the coming days. His new team knows only too well how difficult it is to beat this Barça side, with the Blues having suffered a narrow defeat in the semi-final.

But it’s not just on the pitch that Barça is superior. In the stands, they were far more numerous than their rivals.

It’s only a short flight from Barcelona to the Basque Country, but you’d think it was a home game for the Catalans.

Putellas (left) scored in the 95th minute of the match, with an excellent first time

She walked away to celebrate with Barcelona fans behind the goal after sealing the victory.

Every corner of the San Mamés was covered in Barça fans, with only a handful of French fans scattered around the stadium.

Given the chaos currently surrounding Barca’s men’s team, it is perhaps no surprise that fans are turning out in large numbers to cheer on their all-conquering women’s team.

Lyon did not seem perturbed by the hostile atmosphere, even if each of their touches was greeted by whistles. The French side almost opened the scoring early in the first half when Wendie Renard hit the post with Barca living precariously at the back.

But the Catalans gained momentum in the match and probably should have taken the lead before half-time. Caroline Graham Hansen regularly caused problems for the Lyon defensive line, while Vanessa Gilles had to produce a superb counterattack to repel Mariona Caldentey.

Lyon remained dangerous on the counter-attack but Barça continued to dominate possession and, just after the hour mark, finally opened the scoring.

It’s a heartbreak for Lyon, which has been the powerhouse of women’s football for so long.

Lyon did not seem bothered by the atmosphere inside the San Mamés stadium, as their players were whistled every time they touched the ball.

There was a bit of luck when Bonmati’s shot deflected off Gilles to go over Christiane Endler’s head, but the beauty was in the build-up as the midfielder weaved her way through the defense Lyonnaise before finding the net.

Lyon had pushed hard to equalize late in the match, but this meant they left themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks and, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Putellas sealed Barca’s victory with a fantastic first time goal just wide. the interior. the box.

There had been doubts over Putellas’ future before it was announced she had signed a new contract last week. The attacker took off her jersey while more than 90% of the stadium was in eruption. It was definitely the perfect way to celebrate.