Lyon lifted their eighth European title as they turned in a fabulous performance to run out 3-1 winners over Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final.
Barcelona came into the fixture as reigning European champions, having blown Chelsea away during the opening exchanges of last season’s final. However, the shoe was on the other foot this time around, as Barça found themselves 3-0 down inside 33 minutes thanks to goals from Amandine Henry, Ada Hegerberg and Catarina Macario.
Alexia Putellas pulled one back for Barcelona before a breathless first half concluded, but it proved to be just a consolation as Lyon successfully wrestled back their European crown.
Lyon took the lead after just six minutes – and in some style. Henry dispossessed Putellas with a thunderous challenge deep in the Barcelona half, before arrowing a stunning strike into the top corner.
Barcelona bit back instantly. Jenni Hermoso had two sightings of goal but she was denied on both occasions, firstly via a strong Christiane Endler save and secondly thanks to a phenomenal last ditch Selma Bacha tackle
Bacha then showed her quality in the attacking third as Lyon doubled their advantage after 25 minutes, providing the probing delivery for Hegerberg to head home.
Hegerberg turned provider as Lyon made it three before the half was out. Barcelona failed to clear their lines on multiple occasions, the Norwegian forward picked out Macario at the back post, and she stroked into an empty net.
Barcelona offered themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half time. Caroline Graham Hansen provided the teasing cross, and Putellas connected emphatically to reduce the deficit.
Lyon’s advantage was almost eaten into further just before the hour mark as Patri Guijarro rattled the cross bar with an outrageous attempted lob from half way – a goal which would have threatened to steal Henry’s thunder.
Substitute Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic flashed a volley from close range narrowly wide as the clock ticked down, but Lyon threw bodies on the line to maintain their lead and claim their sixth Champions League title in seven years.
GK: Sandra Panos – 5/10 – Surrendered possession in the build up to Lyon’s third, couldn’t do a great deal about the first two.
RB: Marta Torrejon – 4/10 – Looked vulnerable defensively, with the second goal coming down the right flank. Replaced after an hour.
CB: Mapi Leon – 4/10 – Question marks over her defending as her and Paredes lost track of Hegerberg for Lyon’s second.
CB: Irene Paredes – 3/10 – Left Hegerberg unmarked for Lyon’s second, gifted possession back to Lyon in the build up to their third.
LB: Fridolina Rolfo – 5/10 – Dangerous when she was able to get forward, slightly vulnerable defensively.
CM: Patri Guijarro – 5/10 – Hardly able to get on the ball with Lyon relentless in their press. Clattered the cross bar in the second half with an audacious attempted lob from the half way line.
CM: Aitana Bonmati – 5/10 – Kept quiet, unable to have her usual influence on proceedings and not her typically effective self in possession.
CM: Alexia Putellas – 6/10 – Dispossessed in the build up to Lyon’s opener, ghosted into the box and crashed home a superb volley to net Barcelona’s first. Pressured so effectively by Lyon all evening to limit her usual destructive influence.
RW: Caroline Graham Hansen – 5/10 – Provided a couple of dangerous crosses in the latter stages of the first half – the second of which was buried by Putellas. Beaten by Bacha in the build up to Lyon’s second, really struggled to get the better of the Lyon left back throughout.
ST: Jenni Hermoso – 5/10 – Denied twice inside the opening 15 minutes by a strong save and a last ditch tackle. Replaced at half time for the pace of Oshoala, having been well marshalled by the Lyon centre halves.
LW: Maria Caldentey – 5/10 – Unable to have any real attacking influence on the game, replaced after an hour.
Sub: Asisat Oshoala – 6/10
Sub: Lieke Martens – 5/10
Sub: Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic – 5/10
Sub: Claudia Pina – 5/10
GK: Christiane Endler – 6/10 – Saved well to deny Hermoso in the first half, fortunate to not be lobbed by Guijarro in the second.
RB: Ellie Carpenter – N/A – Stretchered off after 14 minutes with a knee injury after falling awkwardly.
CB: Wendie Renard – 7/10 – Kickstarted the move from which Lyon doubled their lead with a positive forward pass. Comfortable containing Hermoso in the first half, caused more problems by the pace of Oshoala in the second.
CB: Griedge Mbock Bathy – 7/10 – Switched to right back following Carpenter’s injury, successfully kept Caldentey quiet.
LB: Selma Bacha – 9/10 – Made a terrific last ditch tackle to keep out Hermoso early in the first half, before providing the cross for Lyon’s second. A stunningly tenacious performance both defensively and offensively.
CM: Amandine Henry – 8/10 – Opened the scoring in outrageously spectacular style, winning the ball back herself and sending a stunning long range effort into the top corner from all of 25 yards. Worked so well with Horan throughout to stop Barcelona’s usually unplayable midfield three from playing.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 8/10 – Did such a good job harrying Putellas, hardly giving the Barcelona talisman an inch. Similarly effective going forward with her smart decision making.
CAM: Catarina Macario – 7/10 – Couldn’t miss for Lyon’s third, stroking into an empty net at the back post. Pressed relentlessly, so effective in disrupting Barcelona’s flow.
RW: Delphine Cascarino – 7/10 – Flashed just over with a half chance early in the second period. An integral part of the energetic Lyon press that caused Barcelona so many problems.
FW: Ada Hegerberg – 9/10 – Peeled off both Barcelona centre backs to nod home Lyon’s second, before demonstrating great awareness to pick out Macario for her side’s third. A constant threat.
LW: Melvine Malard – 7/10 – Combined well with Bacha in the build up to Lyon’s second with a neat one-two. Pivotal to Lyon’s game plan with her willingness to charge down the Barcelona backline.
Sub: Kadeisha Buchanan – 7/10
Sub: Eugenie Le Sommer – 6/10
Sub: Perle Morroni – 5/10
