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

Beating Lyon in a Champions League final was about the only thing this Barcelona team couldn’t have done.

The French team was the powerhouse of women’s football between 2011 and 2022. They won a record eight European trophies and defeated Barça twice in a final: 4-1 in 2019 and 3-1 in 2022.

The tide was turning with Barcelona beating Chelsea to claim a first win of 2021, but defeat to Lyon in 2022 showed there was still work to be done.

Even as they regained their crown last season with a 3-2 win against Wolfsburg, true dominance means winning time and time again.

So it was fitting that Aitana Bonmati, the best player in the world, put Barca ahead before Alexia Putellas, the former Ballon d’Or winner, sealed the match in extra time.

The Blaugrana defeated Lyon 2-0 at the Estadio de San Mames on Saturday afternoon

Aitana Bonmati (center) and Alexia Putellas both scored to help Barça achieve victory

The Catalans are now three-time European winners and have won a quadruple for the first time in their history. There are still five to go to equal Lyon’s record, but this victory at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium felt like a moment of changing of the guard.

Barcelona are now the best team in the world and it feels inevitable that this will not be the last time they lift this trophy. There is quality all over the pitch and on the bench, with Putellas only coming on for her goal in stoppage time.

For England star Lucy Bronze, this is her fifth European trophy, with the defender winning three with Lyon before recording back-to-back victories with Barca. It is also a second for her England teammate Keira Walsh.

Of course, it wasn’t the ending Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor wanted. Although her departure has not yet been confirmed, she will be announced as Chelsea’s new manager in the coming days. Her new team knows all too well how difficult it is to beat this Barca side, as the Blues suffered a narrow defeat in the semi-finals.

But it’s not just on the pitch where Barca are superior. They vastly outnumbered their rivals in the stands.

It’s just a short flight from Barcelona to the Basque region, but you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a home game for the Catalan side.

Full-time scenes of cheering broke out as Putellas (centre) lifted the Champions League trophy into the air

Barcelona have now won three Women’s Champions League titles in the last four years

Bonmati (centre) got the opener in the 63rd minute, with her shot finding the Lyon goal via Vanessa Gilles

Jonatan Giraldez (centre) celebrated after the match, with the Barcelona boss having previously confirmed he would leave the club at the end of the 2023-2024 season

Lioness star Keira Walsh (left) beamed with joy as she celebrated alongside Marta Torrejon (center) and Maria Leon (right)

Every corner of the San Mames was covered with Barcelona fans, with only a handful of French supporters scattered throughout the stadium.

Given the chaos currently surrounding Barcelona’s men’s team, it is perhaps no wonder that supporters are traveling in droves to cheer on their all-conquering women’s side.

Lyon seemed unfazed by the hostile atmosphere, despite every touch being greeted with whistles. The French side almost opened the scoring early in the first half when Wendie Renard hit the post, while Barça were living dangerously at the back.

But the Catalans grew into the match and probably should have taken the lead before half-time. Caroline Graham Hansen regularly caused problems in Lyon’s defensive line, while Vanessa Gilles had to make an excellent block to deny Mariona Caldentey.

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

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

She drove off to celebrate with the Barcelona fans behind the goal after clinching the win

There was sadness at Lyon, which has been the powerhouse of women’s football for so long

Lyon didn’t seem fazed by the atmosphere at the Estadio de San Mames as their players were whistled whenever they touched the ball

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

Lyon had pushed hard for an equalizer as the match drew to a close, but that meant they left themselves open to counter-attacks and in the fifth minute of injury time Putellas sealed Barcelona’s victory with a fantastic first-time finish from just inside. the box.

There was some doubt about Putellas’ future before it was announced that she had signed a new contract last week. The attacker took off her shirt as more than 90 percent of the stadium erupted. It was undoubtedly the perfect way to celebrate.