Barcelona Clinch Women’s Champions League Title

Barcelona secured their Women’s Champions League title defense and completed a remarkable quadruple with a thrilling victory over the record eight-time winners Lyon in an electrifying final in Bilbao. Aitana Bonmati, the Ballon d’Or winner, initiated the scoring with a deflected strike past goalkeeper Christiane Endler in the second half, followed by Alexia Putellas’ clinical finish in stoppage-time, minutes after her late introduction, confirming Barcelona’s triumph.

This victory marked the first time Barcelona had defeated Lyon, avenging their final defeat in 2022. Despite Lyon’s stubborn defense, standout performer Caroline Graham Hansen created opportunities for Barcelona, eventually leading to their success. Lyon had their chances, hitting the crossbar and coming close through efforts from Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard and Kadidiatou Diani.

Barcelona’s manager, Jonatan Giraldez, celebrated his final European match in charge with a victory before moving to the American side Washington Spirit. Reflecting on the win, Giraldez expressed his joy, particularly in defeating Lyon for the first time, despite rumors of his departure affecting the team’s performance. Conversely, Lyon’s manager, Sonia Bompastor, faced disappointment but acknowledged Barcelona’s superior performance.

This defeat marked Lyon’s third loss in 11 final appearances, leaving them dejected as they collected their runners-up medals. Bompastor refrained from discussing her potential move to Chelsea, emphasizing her disappointment with the loss.