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Barcelona v Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final score and result as Alexia Putellas goal seals win
Bilbao’s San Mames staged a blockbuster Women’s Champions League final as holders Barcelona beat eight-time winners Lyon
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, 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.
Bonmati, who won the Ballon d’Or and Fifa Best Women’s Player award for 2023, struck in the 63rd minute with a shot from a tight angle which deflected off Lyon’s Vanessa Gilles past keeper Christiane Endler.
With their fans vastly outnumbered at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Lyon sent on Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg but the competition’s record goal-scorer was unable to find the net and Putellas came off the bench and netted a stoppage-time goal to seal Barcelona’s win.
Follow live reaction from the Women’s Champions League final in Bilbao after Barcelona beat Lyon, or watch live and free on DAZN
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
Barcelona’s “home” advantage is clear already as the goalkeepers come out onto San Mames for their warm-ups. Huge cheers for Barcelona’s Cata Coll, while there are screeching whistles and jeers for Lyon’s Christine Endler.
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
Some big team news here: Ada Hegerberg is only fit enough for the bench as Sonia Bompastor keeps the same line-up that beat PSG in the French league finale last weekend.
Barcelona drop Ona Battle to the bench with Fridolina Rolfo moving to left back. Mariona Caldentey starts in the front three and Alexia Putellas is on the bench.
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
TEAM NEWS!
Lyon line-up to face Barcelona: Lyon: Endler; Carpenter, Renard, Gilles, Bacha; Van de Donk, Egurrola, Horan; Cascarino, Dumornay, Diani
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
TEAM NEWS!
Barcelona line-up to face Lyon: Coll; Bronze, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Patri; Graham Hansen, Paralluelo, Mariona
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
We should have team news and the confirmed starting line-ups in Bilbao in the net 10 minutes or so...
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
These can seem uncertain times for Lyon. Sonia Bompastor is expected to leave the club after the Champions League final, to replace Emma Hayes at Chelsea. The club’s ownership has changed, too, within the past year, with Jean-Michel Aulas, the president who bankrolled so much of Lyon’s dominance in France and Europe, stepping down. Lyon’s women’s team is now in the hands of Michele Kang, the owner of Washington Spirit in the US.
The move was the first step of Kang’s plans to implement a multi-club ownership model. Lyon would remain at the forefront of that in Europe, but it remains a sizable shift. “She has a clear vision of the new project,” said Bompastor, only looking ahead to Saturday night at the San Mames amid questions over her own future. “She is a very ambitious woman. It matches the club.”
Lyon’s future may be brighter given they have Melchie Dumornay, the 20-year-old who has the talent to the be the star of the final.
Why the Women’s Champions League final is not what you might think
As the eight-time winners face the holders, many are seeing the Bilbao final as the changing of the guard between old champions and new conquerors. But not Lyon, or Barcelona
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
Ada Hegerberg can become the first player to score in five Women’s Champions League finals today.
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
It’s basically a home final for Barcelona in Bilbao. Thousands have made the journey to the north of Spain and the streets have been full of blue and red all morning.
Great scenes at the fan park this afternoon, as well as ahead of the team bus arriving at the San Mames. Barcelona are expecting 80 per cent of the stadium to be supporting them against Lyon.
“I’m so proud to be part of this club,” Aitana Bonmati said. “ With this great fanbase. Whether we play at Camp Nou, Montjuïc or at our Johan Cruyff stadium they’re always our twelfth player!”
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
Lionesses right back Lucy Bronze is aiming to win her fifth Champions League title today, and second with Barcelona, against her former team Lyon.
Bronze joined Lyon in 2017 and won the Champions League in her first season there, adding two more in 2019 and 2020 as part of the dominant side.
After returning to England with Manchester City in 2020, Bronze joined Barcelonat two years later and was part of the side that defeated Wolfsburg in last season’s final.
The 32-year-old became the first English player to win the Women’s Champions League with two different clubs, while Barcelona team-mate Keira Walsh is aming to win her second today.
Barcelona vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League final latest updates
Barcelona have never beaten Lyon, in four attempts. When asked how Barcelona had changed since their last meeting, in the 2022 final in Turin, the Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor suggested the holders have made conscious efforts to change their training routines and alter their recruitment plans with the thought of beating Lyon in mind. “Turin impacted them,” Bonstapor said. Lyon believe Jonatan Giraldez’s side have been building up to this moment.
Barcelona themselves are taking pride in much they have changed in the two years since Turin. They have come through difficult moments in the Champions League since they were beaten by Lyon, none more so than when they were two goals down in last season’s final against Wolfsburg.
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