The transfer of power has been confirmed: the Barcelona women, title holders and led by Aitana Bonmati, won the Champions League by beating Olympique Lyonnais (2-0), eight-time European champion, on Saturday in Bilbao.
Until then, the Lyonnaises, who were playing their eleventh final since 2010, had won their four confrontations with Barça in the Champions League, but the fifth was the good one for the Catalans.
Technical gestures, duels, atmosphere… At the end of a thrilling and high-level final, the Barcelona women, who are in their fourth consecutive final and their fifth in six seasons, took power against their great rivals.
These are the last two winners of the Ballon d’Or who punished Sonia Bompastor’s players to offer the third European Cup to their club: first Bonmati (2023) then Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022), returned safely end of match.
Spaniard Alexia Putellas (d) scores the second goal against Lyon, May 25, 2024 in Bilbao / Thomas COEX / AFP
Little hampered by the defense, Bonmati overflowed on the left and deceived Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler with a shot deflected by Vanessa Gilles (63rd).
Then at the very end of the match, Alexia Putellas, who had just entered the field, shattered the dreams of the Rhodaniennes with a powerful strike under the bar, plunging the Bilbao stadium into a charged atmosphere (90+5).
For a year and its European triumph, Barça, led by Bonmati and 2022 Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas, continues to overshadow OL in Europe. This year, they won the championship – cup – Champions League treble.
And this first victory against OL, at the best of times, looks like a confirmation of the transfer of power, even if Bonmati does not say so.
“OL are still a great team”
“I think we have been showing for many years what team we are, today’s match obviously tells us again that we are European champions for another year, but Olympique Lyonnais are still a great team”she said.
Lyon’s Kadidiatou Diani (l) fighting with Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo, May 25, 2024 in Bilbao / Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP
But, in the San Mames stadium in Bilbao filled with 51,000 Catalan supporters, it was the Barcelona women who imposed their passing game and their technique on the Lyonnaises.
The first period sometimes resembled the final of the France-Spain Nations League in February where the Spanish taught the Blues a lesson (2-0).
Like Caroline Graham Hansen, too difficult to control for French left-back Selma Bacha, late and overwhelmed by the Norwegian’s technique and speed, but who also saved OL twice.
“We have eight Champions Leagues, this is their third. Afterwards, the truth of a match, of a season, is not the truth of the next one. I remain lucid, they deserve their victory” said captain Wendie Renard.
“I remain confident for OL and in the future, you can always count on the club”for her part affirmed coach Sonia Bompastor, expected to join Chelsea next season, adding that “the reality is that Barcelona has just won two consecutive titles, they are in a very positive dynamic in terms of the results, the quality of play and the number of spectators they bring to the stadium”.
Deprived of Eugénie Le Sommer, Griedge Mbock and Ada Hegerberg who came on at the end of the match, Les Lyonnaises controlled the second half better, camping in the Spanish area at the end of the match.
Aitana Bonmati, Ballon d’Or 2023, after her goal against Lyon, May 25, 2024 in Bilbao / Thomas COEX / AFP
Kadidiatou Diani and her teammates multiplied the big chances in front of goalkeeper Cata Coll, like a powerful strike from Diani just above the top corner (76th, 83, 87, 88th) and multiple crosses towards the Barcelona goal. Before being punished by Alexia Putellas and her winning goal.
This new European coronation and this goal in the final – the sixth this season in C1 – offer Aitana Bonmati a good chance of winning her second Ballon d’Or, before playing the Olympic Games with Spain this summer.
