FC Barcelona Femeni faces VFL Wolfsburg in a much anticipated sold-out UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Philips Stadion, Eindhoven on the 3rd of June.
It was an entertaining match that ended in a 3-2 victory for the Culers. The Barça women came back from a first-half 2-0 deficit to win the match in the second half.
2 goals from Patricia Guijarro in a quick succession of two minutes to tie the game and a brilliant left-footed effort from Fridolina Rolfo to complete the comeback and win the game.
Three minutes on the clock and Barcelona already conceded the first goal. Wolfsburg was able to take the early advantage.
Barcelona had a lot of possession and a lot of attempts but was not able to bury the chances in the first half of the game as Irene Paredes, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Salma Paralluelo came close to scoring.
Barcelona threatened Wolfsburg and got a lot of chances but it was Wolfsburg that was ruthless with their conversions.
The good experience of Caroline Graham Hansen, Mariona Caldentey, Walsh, and the relentless Bonmati and Rolfo stepping up in the second half helped the game.
It was a final that wasn’t short of talking points.
Here we look at the FC Barcelona Femeni player ratings vs VFL Wolfsburg in the UWCL Final.
Sandra Panos: 6.5
Conceded two goals but made four saves as she grew into the game and stayed alert. Could have done better to save the first goal. Did well to deny Pajor two goals in the second half. Ended the game with 35 touches, 12 recoveries, and 3 saves from inside the box.
Lucy Bronze: 7
Coming from the back of an injury and surgery, she walked straight back into the starting line-up and started from the right back position. Was ruffled up to cause the first goal that the team conceded. Was solid in defense after that. Did well to get past her mistake and got more involved with the team play. Charged forward, always looking to create something. Good defending from her to close down Pajor in a one-on-one counterattack for Wolfsburg. Ended the game with eleven recoveries, one interception, one clearance, two out of four tackles won, one blocked shot, one chance created, and one big chance created.
Irene Paredes: 7
Was denied a free header from a close range when she hit a well-placed Mapi Leon’s corner kick. Winning one on one duels. Ended the match winning two ground duels, four out of nine aerial duels, one block, one headed clearance, and ten recoveries.
Maria Leon: 7.5
Good delivery to create a good chance in the 34th minute. This was a real opportunity for Barcelona to get an equaliser but Graham Hansen wasn’t able to get a good hit on it. A great challenge to deny Jonsdottir in a fast one on one counter-attack. Ended the match with four chances created, two big chances created, and eight recoveries. Always calm on the ball and help build up play from the back.
Fridolina Rolfo: 8.5
Scored the winning goal to crown the Catalan UWCL champions for the second time in their history. Was man-marked by Jonsdottir in the first half of the game. But that doesn’t stop her brilliant plays as Rolfo continues to put in crosses and cut-back passes into the Wolfsburg box all through the game. Being on the left-hand side she was the primary creative outlet of the Barcelona left-wing attack. She got one goal with a terrific finish to put Barça in the lead. Had two shots, completed four out of five dribbles, and had 4 passes into the final third.
Aitana Bonmati: 8.5
One assist. Unbelievable balance and technique to go past the opposing players. Was always knocking and trying to get the equaliser. Assisted the second goal with a brilliant effort. Got a lot of the ball and played diagonal passes to switch the game to the other part of the pitch occasionally. She had nine recoveries in the game, created four chances, one big chance, and had three of her shots blocked.
Keira Walsh: 7.5
Combined well with Rolfo to create a goal-scoring chance. Ended the match with one clearance, three interceptions, and eight recoveries.
Patri Guijarro: 9
Two goals. MVP got the first goal with a well-timed touch from Caroline Graham Hansen’s assist. Then went on to score a brilliant header two minutes later to tie the game. Scored the second goal, meeting a perfect ball from Bonmati with a well-placed header.
Caroline Graham Hansen: 8.5
One assist. A brilliant individual effort from the right-hand side to set up Patri for the first goal. Had two shots, created four chances, one big chance, and completed seven out of ten dribbles.
Mariona Caldentey: 7.5
So clever in driving defenders out giving Caroline Graham Hansen space to operate. Ended the match with three shots, two chances created, and one big chance created.
Salma Paralluelo: 7
Was denied by the goalkeeper in the last minutes of the first half from a well-assisted Lucy Bronze pass. Ended the match with four shots and one chance created.
SUBSTITUTES
Geyse: 7
Charge forward after coming on and hit a good shot. Was constantly using her strength in the central areas to keep the ball. Almost assisted Bonmati. Drifted to the left wing and midfield to get involved in the play. Did well and almost got a goal. In twenty minutes she created two chances and had one shot.
Claudia Pina:
Didn’t play enough to warrant a rating. Played eleven minutes and had six touches, two recoveries, and was fouled once.
Ana Maria Crnogorcevic:
Didn’t play enough to warrant a rating. In her eleven minutes of action, she only had three touches.
Alexia Putellas:
Didn’t play enough to warrant a rating. Saw only one minute of action on the pitch and had five touches, one recovery, and one pass into the final third.
Ingrid Engen:
Didn’t play enough to warrant a rating. One minute played, three touches, one interception, one recovery, and a completion of two out of two passes.
