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.
Caroline Graham Hansen and Selma Bacha compete
Changing of the guard in European football?
Alexia Putellas came off the bench to seal the victory
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.
Caroline Graham Hansen under pressure from Selma Bacha
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.
Mariona Caldentey fights for the ball with Wendie Renard
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.
Catalina Coll dives to divert a Lyon shot off target
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 in the 63rd minute 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.
Barcelona are only the fourth side to retain the title
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
