Barcelona retained the Women’s Champions League as goals from Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas secured a 2-0 win over Lyon in Bilbao.
Sonia Bompastor – who is expected to replace Emma Hayes as Chelsea manager – failed to clinch the send-off she had hoped for as Lyon, the record eight-time European champions, suffered defeat in a Champions League final for the first time in their history.
Barcelona took the lead on 63 minutes courtesy of Bonmati’s clever run and finish and, after substitute Ada Hegerberg missed a glorious chance to send the game into extra-time, Putellas sealed victory from close range in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The result caps an unprecedented quadruple for Barcelona having already secured Liga F, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona had met Lyon four times previously in the Women’s Champions League with the French side coming out on top each time.
Changing of the guard in European football?
Big occasions call for big players. Lyon were crestfallen in a bouncing Bilbao as Barcelona celebrated their third Women’s Champions League. How fitting that it was goals from Bonmati and Putellas that secured this crown for a second straight season.
Is this the changing of the guard in Europe in women’s football? Lyon beat the Catalans in the final in 2019 and 2022, as well as winning both quarter-final legs in 2018, but they ran into a different beast this time.
This could well be the moment when Barcelona – who ended Chelsea’s hopes in the last four – truly believe they can catch Lyon’s eight titles.
Bompastor’s side beat French rivals Paris Saint-Germain to reach the final, but they were flat for large spells, drowned out and outnumbered by their counterparts in northern Spain.
In front of a record crowd of 50,827, the victory adds to Barcelona’s recent dominance in the women’s game. They were playing in their fourth consecutive Women’s Champions League final, having won it last year and in 2021.
The women’s triumph comes amid continued turmoil in the men’s team, and it is a success which comes swiftly on the heels of Spain’s national triumphs last year in the Women’s World Cup and the inaugural Women’s Nations League.
Barcelona survived an early scare when Lucy Bronze almost steered the ball into her own net in the 14th minute, but instead it struck the woodwork and bounced harmlessly away.
At the other end, Lyon’s Vanessa Gilles had to clear the ball off the line when a Mariona Caldentey shot that had been saved ricocheted goalwards and Caroline Graham Hansen also went close to scoring as the first half finished 0-0.
Barca gradually got more of a grip on the game and Bonmati, who won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Women’s Player award for 2023, broke the deadlock just after the hour-mark with a shot from a tight angle which deflected off Lyon’s Gilles past goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
Lyon sent on Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg but the competition’s record goalscorer, who has been troubled by injury for much of the season, was unable to find the net despite a couple of decent chances.
Instead, Putellas, who had been struggling with a persistent knee problem, came off the bench and netted a stoppage-time goal to seal Barcelona’s win.
Giraldez: One of best days of my life
Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez told DAZN:
“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 of all of them. When I decided in December to leave the team at the end of the season, people criticised the decision that maybe the performance of the team is going down. We showed today the amazing performance we have and deserved the victory.”
On Alexia Putellas’ goal: “Everyone did an amazing job. Alexia only played five or six minutes but there are other players as well. This is a special moment for them.”
On if he will miss the Women’s Champions League when he moves to Washington Spirit: “It was the best thing that could happen today with me, my family, almost 40 people coming from Galicia. It is a special moment and I will enjoy it.”
Bronze: Putellas is the Queen of Barcelona
Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze told DAZN:
“We knew that that’s what we needed, to be a club to make history. It’s not easy, it’s hard to win it once. To win it back to back, Lyon showed how difficult it is and this team has finally done that. We go down in history as one of the best teams in Europe.”
On Alexia Putellas: “She’s the captain of the team, she’s the Queen of Barcelona for a reason. She’s always so confident in the team and showed today why she is a back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner.
“She’s got the quality to do that in the last minute of the Champions League final when we were up against it at the end and just sealed the win for us. It was amazing.”
On the celebrations: “All of our family will be staying around. The hundreds of friends and family will be celebrating tonight. We’ve won it all so we’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
Van de Donk: Nobody likes to lose a final
Lyon’s Danielle van de Donk told DAZN:
“I’m very emotional. Nobody likes to lose a final and we were here to win it. It’s a shame we didn’t create enough. Barcelona deserved the win but I’m proud of my team, we gave it our all.”
On her and Lindsey Horan’s reduced chances: “I play more as a 10 and Linsey as bit more as a six. We were a bit low in the midfield so couldn’t get the press right and that is usually our strength.
“Credit to Barcelona, they did amazing. I wish we could have pressed them a bit more, I think that could have made a difference.”
Putellas brings unbridled joy to Barcelona
While Hayes had hoped to conclude her 12 years at Chelsea with victory in this final – the one trophy that eluded the new United States manager – before her move across the pond, nobody could begrudge Putellas putting the seal on Barcelona’s success.
Two years ago, she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and missed out on Euro 2022, but was part of the Spain squad that lifted the World Cup last summer, and four days ago signed a new deal that will keep the enormously popular player in the Catalonian capital for two more years.
It was a rousing ovation that greeted the 30-year-old when she stepped out onto the pitch in the third minute of stoppage time, a sound quickly upgraded to a roar when she found the back of the net three minutes later to cap off the victory.
Lyon will reflect on how they ought to have taken the lead when captain Wendie Renard could not put the finishing touch on Lindsey Horan’s clever flicked delivery after the restart.
But with England midfielder Keira Walsh and a particularly in-form Bronze pulling the strings, this maiden quadruple for the Catalans was richly deserved.
What’s next?
The 2023/24 season has reached its conclusion but planning has already started for the new campaign.
Several Premier League sides have confirmed pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2024/25 term, which kicks off on the weekend of August 17/18, while others have given fresh kits an early airing.
The domestic season starts the previous weekend and marks the launch of Sky Sports +, giving more choice to sports fans via live streams and a new dedicated channel, at no extra cost. In a broadcasting first, every game in the Championship, League One and League Two will be streamed live on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 EFL season.
Stand by for another busy summer in the transfer window – clubs can do business from June 14 until August 30 and the Sky Sports Transfer Centre will keep you posted with all the latest news and rumours.
Euro 2024 is just weeks away, too. Keep track of England’s Euro fixtures, check out the full tournament schedule in Germany and join us on skysports.com