Barcelona won 2-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final against Lyon to retain their title.
The Catalan giants won the competition just 12 months ago, but Lyon remained the team they had yet to beat. That all changed on Saturday in Bilbao as Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati made a difference in San Mames’ misconduct.
Deep in stoppage time, substitute Alexia Putellas scored twice to put the result beyond doubt and there were celebrations inside the stadium. Lyon, giants of the competition for so many years, were undone by Barcelona in the end.
How did the game happen?
It was the first half of the game as Barcelona had a lot of possession, but couldn’t create much with it. Lyon created the first big chance of the game following good play from Melchie Dumornay and Kadidiatou Diani, but in the end Barcelona were rewarded.
Caroline Graham Hansen was Barcelona’s main creative force in the opening exchanges as she found space down the right and picked out Fridolina Rolfo, but the effort went off target. Lyon then piled on the pressure as Lucy Bronze almost tried to clear Selma Bacha’s effort into her own net.
Bacha was then called into action at the other end as Patricia Guijarro took a loose ball from Lindsey Horan and slotted it into the Lyon box. His effort was deflected by goalkeeper Christiane Endler and almost returned to the net, if not for a goal-line clearance from Bacha.
Just after the hour, Bonmati showed exactly why he is one of the main event as he burst through the Lyon defense and his effort from a tight angle deflected into the back of the net.
Diani came very close to leveling the scores late on as he fired a shot from distance. The curve opened up a little in the top corner, but it showed that Lyon were not ready to give up just yet.
Except for six minutes of extra time, Barcelona managed to hold on and saw off the historic victory. Substitute Puellas ensured Lyon were denied a ninth title by adding a second right at the death.
GK: Cata Coll – 6/10 – He looked uncomfortable dealing with crosses in his box. They conceded one in the first half and almost gave Lyon the lead. It was a poor clearance that put his team under pressure in the second half.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 8/10 – Some key defending in the first five minutes to deny Lyon the opening goal after some brilliant play. However, I was lucky not to let your goal go so soon. What more than made up for it was a heroic defensive performance in the second half.
CB: Irene Paredes – 8/10 – Vital scored late in the first half as Dumornay looked to get a shot. He coped with Lyon’s recent attacks very well.
CB: Ingrid Engen – 8/10 – A strong defensive partnership with Paredes also showed composure late on as Lyon pushed for an equaliser.
LB: Fridolina Rolfo – 7/10 – Scored a few tries in the first and second half, but looked a threat down the left. It has been shown.
CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – He controlled most of the game but his influence waned late on as Lyon looked for an equaliser. You have done enough to get the job done.
CM: Aitana Bonmati – 8/10 – Plenty of energy in the middle of the park and the class ozed at times. Not surprisingly, he opened the scoring in the second half.
CM: Patricia Guijarro – 7/10 – It almost opened the scoring in the first half but was denied by Endler. A confident and exciting night from the midfielder.
RW: Caroline Graham Hansen – 8/10 – He danced defensively at Lyon at times. It was quality football and I worked hard to finish it. His speed caused many problems for the opposition.
ST: Salma Paraluelo – 7/10 – A couple of goal watchers in the first hour but can’t make either of them count. He used his speed and body well. It has been shown.
LW: Mariona Caldeney – 7/10 – Added fluidity to Barcelona’s attack as he often switched positions with Paraluelo to probe Lyon’s defence.
What you are holding
SUB: Ona Batlle (67′ by Fridolina Rolfo) – 7/10
SUB: Esmee Brugts (84′ for Salma Paraluelo) – 7/10
SUB: Alexia Putellas (90+2′ by Keira Walsh) – 8/10
SUB: Claudia Pina (90+2′ by Mariona Caldeney) – N/A
Subs used: Sandra Panos (GK), Gemma Font (GK), Mapi Leon, Jana Fernandez, Marta Torrejon, Bruna Vilamala, Vicky Lopez, Martina Fernandez
The manager
Jonatan Giraldez – 8/10 – He finally broke the Lyon code. He ended his European tour with Barcelona in style with a historic win. He used his substitutes well as Puellas stepped up in the dying stages of the game.
GK: Christiane Endler – 6/10 – Good position to deny Guijarro late in the first half. There wasn’t much he could do for the opener as he had deviated.
RB: Ellie Carpenter – 6/10 – It allowed Bonmati to score the opening goal. He provided some threat down the right flank but was unable to make his influence count.
CB: Wendie Renard – 7/10 – It slammed the doors early as Lyon showed their threat in pieces. Set the tone for Lyon’s defensive unit and was a calm presence at the back, especially as Barcelona dominated possession, but got a book in the second half when Hansen managed to get past him.
CB: Vanessa Gilles – 6/10 – It allowed Patri to charge into the box with the ball after Horan gave it away and it almost cost Lyon a goal. Bonmati’s opening goal deflected off his leg as he skidded to clear it.
LB: Selma Bacha – 7/10 – Hansen had his number in the opening exchanges as the Barcelona forward was the creator of several chances. It was cleared off the line after Guijarro’s first shot almost bounced back into the net. The goalkeeping challenge is to deny Hansen a double.
CM: Damaris Egurrola – 6/10 – Great fight to dispossess Caldeney after the Barcelona defender took the ball in the box. He struggled to tell how to play in the middle of the park as the enemy dominated.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 7/10 – He gave the ball away in a very dangerous position in the first half and luckily Barcelona couldn’t capitalize. It was in the midst of many attacking plays for Lyon in the 90+6 minutes.
CM: Danielle van de Donk – 6/10 – A quiet good performance from an often influential player. It has been shown.
RW: Kadidiatou Diani – 7/10 – Another display of intelligence and footwork was when he was able to get onto the ball in the first half, but he was silent on big spells. I was not far behind with a late equalizer with a long range effort.
ST: Melchie Dumornay – 6/10 – Came very close to connecting with a cross from Cascarino on the hour mark but narrowly missed. It couldn’t impact the game and probably didn’t have enough service.
LW: Delphine Cascarino – 6/10 – A poor touch in the first half brought down a cross, but it was quickly swarmed by the Barcelona defenders. It looked healthy at times but had little impact overall. It has been shown.
What you are holding
SUB: Amel Majri (65′ for Delphine Cascarino) – 6/10
SUB: Vicki Becho (80′ for Vanessa Gilles) – 6/10
SUB: Ada Hegerberg (81′ by Danielle van de Donk) – 6/10
Subs used: Feerine Belhadj (GK), Laura Benkarth (GK), Perle Morroni, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Alice Sombath, Alice Marques, Griedge Mbock
The manager
Sonia Bompastor – 6/10 – It’s not the end of his time at Lyon that he hoped to end his much-reported move to Chelsea. His side had their moments, but Barcelona eventually dominated and got the result they deserved in the end.
Best player – Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
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