Barcelona finally broke the curse that has plagued them for so many years when they defeated Lyon for the first time ever in the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The buildup to the 2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League final was on an entirely different level than any of its predecessors. The anticipation and atmosphere surrounding the game made it one for the history books and rightfully so. The final game which could be easily tagged as a “Clash of Titans” was going to feature Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais, the top two teams in women’s football.
However, what made the clash more tantalizing was the fact that Lyon, whose superiority in the sport has been established over the years, had never been defeated by recently proclaimed powerhouse, Barcelona. With that record, the utopian narrative states that Barcelona needs to secure a victory over the French giants to seal their epithet of being the best football team in the world at the moment.
Last time both sides met 2022, Lyon triumphed in a devastating 3-1 in Turin extending Barcelona’s long awaited win over the French champions. However, another chance presented itself to the Catalan giants in a final of the biggest magnitude. And with the game taking place in Bilbao, Spain, there is no better chance to make a statement and announce their invincibility than on home soil .
With all the anticipation and buildup, the kickoff whistle rang aloud at San Mames, where Barcelona were facing the final hurdle standing in their way of winning their third European crown. Heading into the game, the Catalan giants were the current holders of the title, and a win would help them successfully retain their hold on the much-coveted trophy.
Faced with the biggest challenge this season, Barcelona played incredibly well, dictating the tempo and rhythm of the game. The Spanish side in their usual style enjoyed possession of the ball and created a few chances in front of goal while maintaining a solid backline to keep Lyon’s attackers at bay.
The first half went really well for Barcelona as the team fought to finally overcome their repeated downfall at the hands of their French counterparts. Despite both sides’ efforts, the half ended 0-0 with Barcelona undoubtedly the better team but yet still unable to deliver any blow to the French giants.
The second half was when the tides turned and Barcelona finally caught a glimpse of victory over their European kryptonite. Aitana Bonmati burst into the penalty area in the 63rd minute and struck a low shot that was guided into the back of the net by a deflection to give Barcelona the lead. The Ballon d’Or winner’s goal sparked life and belief in the Catalan giants, who were seemingly on the verge of achieving a long-awaited dream.
AITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA pic.twitter.com/UiuinfbCPu
— Barça Femení (@BarcaFem) May 25, 2024
Lyon gave Barcelona quite the scare in the last 15 minutes of the game as they pressed the Catalans in search of an equalizer. However, Barcelona put on a good defensive performance to keep the French side at bay and maintain their lead.
Like a well-written movie script, the final nail in the coffin came in the last minute of additional time and from none other than two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. The captain smashed the ball into the roof of the net to secure Barcelona’s first-ever victory over Lyon.
WHAT A MOMENT 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/4jwbQewdJP
— Barça Femení (@BarcaFem) May 25, 2024
The final whistle was met with rapturous noise and celebration as Barcelona secured their third European crown and retained their hold on the Champions League title for the second successive season.
