BILBAO — Second-half goals from Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas earned Barcelona a 2-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais in the Women's Champions League final on Saturday, their second straight victory in the competition.
Barca, who beat Vfl Wolfsburg 3-2 in last year's final, came into the game seeking to go one better than their 2019 and 2022 finals against French powerhouse Lyon, which they lost 4-1 and 3-1 respectively.
This time around they finally found the right combination of organization and individual brilliance to beat Lyon, the most successful team in the competition's history, in a tight, tense final.
With a huge number of their fans in attendance at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, 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.
Barcelona vs Lyon highlights
Heart in the mouth moment for Barca fans across the Estadio de San Mamés... Patri comes so close to an opener.
Watch FC Barcelona vs. Olympique Lyonnais in the 2024 UWCL Final Live and Free on https://t.co/0z5fAmShqh, now!
#UWCLonDAZN | #UWCLFinal | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/RHRmIZ3xdX— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 25, 2024
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 keeper Christiane Endler.
The World's best, the golden girl, the Ballon d'Or, Aitana Bonmatiiiiiii!!!!
FC Barcelona lead Olympique Lyonnais in Bilbao.Watch FC Barcelona vs. Olympique Lyonnais in the 2024 UWCL Final Live and Free on https://t.co/0z5fAmShqh, now!
#UWCLonDAZN | #UWCLFinal | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/BtuXtVxFnQ— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 25, 2024
Lyon sent on Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg but the competition's record goal-scorer, 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.
ALEXIA PUTELLASSSSSSSS
Watch FC Barcelona vs. Olympique Lyonnais in the 2024 UWCL Final Live and Free on https://t.co/0z5fAmShqh, now!
#UWCLonDAZN | #UWCLFinal | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/hSEgNL9eQO— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 25, 2024
The best in the World! ️
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 25, 2024
Barcelona Femení win the quadruple for the first time in their history ❤️
Supercopa de España Femenina ✅
Copa de la Reina ✅
Liga F ✅
UEFA Women's Champions League ✅ pic.twitter.com/t0QbF17jtW— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 25, 2024
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Davis)