That’s all from me!
Barcelona have won the 2024 Women’s Champions League following a 2-0 victory over Lyon in Bilbao. It was a thrilling match with Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas the goalscorers. I’ll leave you with Suzanne Wrack’s match report so you can relive the action.
Thanks for reading!
The big moment
The best in the World! 🗺️
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Lucy Bronze has become the first English player to win five Champions League titles.
Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh tells DAZN: “Really really happy, I think we played a really good game today. I’ve lost my voice with all the shouting but I’m really really happy!
“To win the four trophies that we set out to this year and today it felt like a home game so to do it in front of our fans was really special and for Jona [Jonatan Giraldez] to go out like this was amazing but these girls are special. You could see the way we played and they’re just a great bunch of girls.”
Today’s victory also means Barcelona have now won the quadruple for the first time ever. The club’s trophy haul this season consists of the Spanish Super Cup, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and the Champions League.
Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez tells 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 are going down. We showed today the amazing performance we have and deserved the victory.”
Jonatan Giráldez is lifted by his players. His time as Barcelona manager ends with a historic Champions League win.
Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze tells 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.”
Barcelona crowned champions
Barcelona retain the Women’s Champions League title!
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The Barcelona players sing ‘We are the Champions’ with arms linked, the song roaring around the stadium. Meanwhile, Clàudia Pina is rocking the trophy like it’s a baby. Scenes.
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Jonatan Giráldez kisses the trophy as he walks past. What a moment for the Barcelona manager! The silverware is staying in Spain!
Lyon are handed their runners-up medals, but most players take them straight off. Plenty of disappointed faces among the French side. A heartbreaking end to the season and a heartbreaking potential end to Sonia Bompastor’s time as manager.
Here’s a look at that amazing strike from Alexia Putellas…
ALEXIA PUTELLASSSSSSSS 🔥🔥🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 25, 2024
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Incredible scenes at San Mamés as Barcelona celebrate in front of thousands of partying fans. What an atmosphere!
Full-time: Barcelona 2-0 Lyon
It’s over! The curse has been broken! Barcelona have beat Lyon to win the Champions League!
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90+7 min: Batlle breaks forward before setting the ball to Pina on the left. Putellas makes a run into the box, receives the pass from Pina before firing it home!
The Barcelona no11 is then booked for taking her shirt off in celebration – but it doesn’t matter!
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GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Lyon (Putellas, 90+6)
Game over! Super-sub Putellas strikes for Barcelona to seal the Champions League title!
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90+4 min: Dumornay goes for goal just inside the Barcelona box, but Putellas comes across to make an outstanding tackle! Two minutes to play!
90+2 min: Here she is! The captain’s armband is handed over to Alexia Putellas, who replaces Walsh for Barcelona. Cláudia Pina is also on to replace Caldentey.
90+1 min: SIX minutes have been added on. Can Barcelona see out this game? Lyon are throwing absolutely everything at the current holders now.
87 min: Hansen wins the ball inside her own half, glides past Bacha and looks to go on the attack, but Dumornay tracks back to make a great tackle. Lyon then look to break forward again as the ball is crossed into Hegerberg, but the forward’s effort flies off target.
85 min: Barcelona are next to make a change as Esmee Brugts replaces Paralluelo. Time must be ticking very slowly for the Spanish side as we count down the final few minutes.
83 min: Coll is fine to play on for now. Meanwhile, Lyon have made two more changes with Vicki Bècho replacing Gilles and Ada Hegerberg on for Van de Donk.
81 min: This is hugely concerning for Barcelona, Coll appears to have avoided a head injury, which was the initial concern, but she seems to be suffering with an ankle problem.
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78 min: Batlle goes to ground with a knock, giving Diani a free run into the box. She crosses the ball in and Coll and Horan heavily clash. That did not look good at all.
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75 min: I’m exhausted just watching Hansen in this game. The Barcelona forward is not slowing down in the slightest! She bursts inside from the right, making a lengthy run into the box. But just as she goes for goal Bacha slides in to make the tackle of the match so far, completely putting her body on the line. What a challenge!
72 min: Hansen steps up to take the kick and goes for goal, but her effort is fired straight into the Lyon wall.
70 min: Hansen is completely wiped out by Renard on the right. The Lyon captain becomes the first player to be booked this evening.
The free kick is sent into the box and Lyon attempt to make the clearance, but the ball falls to Van de Donk who appears to handle it in a dangerous area. Another free kick is given.
68 min: This is the first time ever Barcelona have taken the lead against Lyon in the Women’s Champions League. Can they hold onto it? Just over 20 minutes left to play!
66 min: Both sides make a change as Rolfö is replaced by Ona Batlle for Barcelona.
For Lyon, Amel Majri is on for Cascarino.
64 min: Bonmatí carries the ball into the box, avoiding challenges on her way before going for goal. It takes a deflection off Gilles before flying past Endler and into the net!
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GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Lyon (Bonmatí, 63)
Bonmatí strikes to give Barcelona the lead! The world’s best!
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60 min: Chance for Barcelona as Rolfö makes a run into the box. She crosses the ball into a dangerous area and Paralluelo looks to head it towards goal, but Bacha makes the block before clearing the danger.
57 min: Lyon win a free kick in a dangerous area following a foul from Engen on Dumornay. The forward has been brilliant for Lyon this evening, it’s easy to forget that she is only 20-years-old!
The ball is sent straight into the box and Gilles goes for goal, but Coll collects with ease.
55 min: Barcelona are furious! Walsh looks to send Hansen through on goal from midfield, but referee Rebecca Welch accidentally gets in the way! Of course, play is stopped. Perhaps a huge let-off for Lyon!
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52 min: Bronze has been another standout player for Barcelona this evening. Her partnership with Hansen on the right has caused numerous problems for Lyon.
Joe Pearson has written in to ask: “So Lucy Bronze has won this competition with both teams: three in a row with Lyon, and last year with Barcelona. Does that make her the wildcard here? Or is her presence with Barcelona just another indicator of the power shift in women’s football?”
Thoughts, football fans?
49 min: Lyon have a corner. The ball is crossed into the box but Coll punches it clear. Van de Donk receives it in midfield and sends another cross into the box. Renard is there and goes for goal with a half-volley, but her effort flies over the bar.
46 min: Lyon come straight out of the gates and head towards goal. Dumornay makes her way into the box and looks to square the ball across the six-yard area, but Coll is there to make the save.
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Kick-off: Barcelona 0-0 Lyon
We’re back under way at San Mamés!
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Caroline Graham Hansen has been the standout player here by far. She is on a one-woman mission to bring the trophy back to Barcelona, causing numerous problems for Lyon on the right. She is absolutely unstoppable today.
Half-time: Barcelona 0-0 Lyon
It’s all level at the break!
45+1 min: Two minutes have been added on. Both sides are still desperately looking for a breakthrough.
44 min: Hansen is on the ball again, she cuts into the box and goes for goal, but her effort runs just wide.
43 min: Hansen has been absolutely brilliant so far. The forward has been the catalyst of every Barcelona attack. Lyon are really struggling to deal with her.
39 min: A Lyon corner is sent into the Barcelona penalty area. Renard is there to head it towards goal, but her effort is calmly saved by Coll.
37 min: Barcelona appeal for a penalty after Paralluelo goes to ground after clashing with Gilles, but the referee awards a free kick to Lyon. The decision has not been taken well by the Barcelona fans.
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36 min: Another chance for Lyon as Carpenter looks to make a cross. Coll parries it, sending the ball out to the other side of the box. Cascarino brings it down with a fantastic touch before passing to Dumornay, but Paredes sticks a foot in to intercept.
Barcelona head straight to the other side with Hansen dictating the play, but she is eventually forced to go back.
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35 min: Van de Donk looks to initiate a Lyon attack by sending a pass through to Carpenter on the right, but the ball runs out of play.
32 min: Just under 15 minutes to play before the break in Bilbao. This is an incredibly tight game with both teams coming close to breaking the deadlock on at least one occasion. Will we see a goal before half-time?
28 min: What a chance for Barcelona! Caldentey wins the ball from Gilles and goes completely unchallenged while she carries it into the box. She looks to square it across goal, Endler blocks it and goes to make the clearance but it takes a deflection and almost goes into the goal! Lyon can eventually clear… just. Pure chaos!
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25 min: Van de Donk sends a high cross to Horan in the box and Coll comes out to collect, but she spills it! Luckily for Barcelona, the 23-year-old quickly brings it down to claim.
24 min: Paredes and Dumornay both go to ground after clashing in midfield. This is turning into quite the battle between the two players!
22 min: Nothing separates these two sides as we approach the midway point of the first half. Barcelona have endured a shaky 10 minutes or so, but they are now starting to threaten a bit more.
20 min: Hansen carries the ball to the edge of the penalty area before setting it back to Bronze. The full-back goes for goal, but drags her effort well wide.
17 min: Barcelona win a free kick in the attacking third. Hansen sends a cross into the box but Lyon can clear the danger with ease.
14 min: Lyon have a corner. The ball is crossed into an area by the front post and comes off the head of Bronze before skimming the crossbar! It falls back into play and Lyon look to attack again. Another cross is sent into the box and Coll comes off her line to claim it, but clashes with two team-mates. Luckily for Barcelona, the referee blows for a foul.
11 min: Hansen receives the ball on the right and sends a threatening cross into the box. Paralluelo can’t get there in time, but Rolfö makes a run in behind at the back post. The left-back attempts an awkward first-time shot, but her effort just misses the target.
10 min: Caldentey attempts to create an opportunity by crossing the ball into the penalty area, but Endler is able to collect.
9 min: San Mamés is absolutely rocking! It’s been a fairly even game so far with both sides seeking a breakthrough.
6 min: Barcelona head straight down to the other end as Hansen carries the ball into the box. She sends a pass to Paralluelo, who goes for goal, but it’s an easy save for Endler.
5 min: Huge chance for Lyon! Dumornay sets the ball to Diani on the edge of the box. The winger cuts inside before squaring it across goal, but Bronze gets in front of Cascarino to make an outstanding tackle!
4 min: Paredes is able to play on for now, much to the relief of Giráldez and the Barcelona fans.
2 min: Barcelona play the ball around the back, but Paredes goes to ground holding her ankle following a challenge from Dumornay. The defender appears to be in some pain here.
Kick-off
We’re under way at San Mamés!
Before we begin, don’t forget you can email in with all your thoughts, feelings and predictions. I’ll be here with you throughout!
The atmosphere is absolutely electric in Bilbao. For the final time this season we are about to hear the UEFA Women’s Champions League anthem. Here we go!
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Few teams have thwarted Barcelona in their ruthless prime, but the Champions League is Lyon’s playground. The French champions have beaten Barcelona in two Champions League finals, have never lost to them in the competition and hope to complete a hat-trick of final victories against them today.
Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez on today’s match: “For me, Barça and Lyon are the two best teams in Europe, without any doubt, because of the individual quality both teams have. If you analyse player by player, there’s certainly little to choose from.
“It will be a fun final, with two quality starting line-ups and great subs on the bench who can help a lot. Plus, of course, from the sidelines, both Sonia and I will have our tools to try and have an entertaining final, which, hopefully, will favour Barça.”
Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor on today’s match: “They [Barcelona] don’t concede too many goals. We know it will be a great challenge for us, and we know they have a lot of experience in this competition but also in the Champions League final itself.
“It will be a tight game and every detail will matter, so it will be up to us to make this game go in our favour. But we expect a very difficult match against a very tough club and a wonderful team.”
Lyon could give Sonia Bompastor a fairytale farewell this evening. The manager is rumoured to be leaving France this summer to replace USA-bound Emma Hayes at Chelsea. Her move to London is expected to be announced following today’s final. Bompastor’s assistant Camille Abily is also set to join her.
Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez spoke exclusively to The Guardian last week about today’s final, his competitive nature and waving goodbye to the team he has been with for the last five years.
Barcelona ended Emma Hayes’ dreams of a fairytale ending at Chelsea last month when they beat the London side 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Chelsea led 1-0 going into the second leg, but a controversial match at Stamford Bridge saw the fixture completely turned on its head. Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Aitana Bonmatí equalised midway through the first half, but Chelsea’s hopes of retaking the lead were dashed when Kadeisha Buchanan was sent off following a contentious second yellow. In another blow for the Blues, Barcelona were awarded a penalty with just over 15 minutes to play and Fridolina Rolfö calmly slotted the ball past Hannah Hampton to seal the win.
As for Lyon, they pipped Paris Saint-Germain to the final in a goal fest across two legs. After going 2-0 down in the first leg, Sonia Bompastor’s side completed a dramatic late comeback with three goals in six minutes to take the lead. The second half was slightly more comfortable, with Delphine Cascarino and Kadidiatou Diani giving Lyon a two-goal advantage within the opening 20 minutes. Tabitha Chawinga popped up with a consolation for PSG, but it was too little too late.
Team news
Barcelona starting XI: Cata Coll; Lucy Bronze, Irene Paredes, Ingrid Engen, Fridolina Rolfö; Aitana Bonmatí, Keira Walsh, Patri Guijarro; Mariona Caldentey, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo. Substitutes: Sandra Paños, Gemma Font, Mapi León, Jana Fernández, Clàudia Pina, Marta Torrejón, Alexia Putellas, Bruna Vilamala, Ona Batlle, Esmee Brugts, Vicky López, Martina Fernández.
𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐙𝐄 𝐃'𝐀𝐕𝐔𝐈#BarçaLyon pic.twitter.com/6mN8cpRGeg
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) May 25, 2024
Lyon starting XI: Christiane Endler; Ellie Carpenter, Vanessa Gilles, Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha; Damaris Egurrola, Lindsey Horan, Daniëlle van de Donk; Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, Delphine Cascarino. Substitutes: Féerine Belhadj, Laura Benkarth, Alice Marques, Griedge Mbock, Perle Morroni, Alice Sombath, Amel Majri, Dzsenifer Marozsán, Vicki Bècho, Ada Hegerberg.
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 💫#UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/2agVn2wFjY
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) May 25, 2024
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to coverage of the Women’s Champions League final. Barcelona and Lyon come face to face once again this evening in what is set to be another showpiece event. Current holders Barcelona will be desperate to retain their title under the lights in Bilbao, but they face an old nemesis in Lyon. The French side have defeated their Spanish counterparts in the final twice in five years, first winning 4-1 in 2019 and then cruising to a 3-1 victory in 2022.
This is Barcelona’s fourth successive Champions League final, will it be their second successive win? Or will Lyon clinch a record-extending ninth title?
Kick-off is at 5pm BST - I’ll be with you all evening!
