Lyon clinched an eighth Champions League trophy in Turin with an entertaining 3-1 victory over last season’s winners, Barcelona.
The final started in the most spectacular fashion. In the sixth minute, Amandine Henry won a crunching tackle with Alexia Putellas then picked up the ball about 35 yards out and unleashed an unstoppable shot that Sandra Paños at full stretch had no chance of reaching.
The current holders continued to play in their usual fashion despite the early setback with Jenni Hermoso forcing a good save out of Christiane Endler.
Sonia Bompastor was forced into an early change when Kadeisha Buchanan came on for the injured Ellie Carpenter.
Although Barça had much of the ball, Lyon extended their lead in the 23rd minute. A great cross from Selma Bacha from the left found Ada Hegerberg to head in from close range – the Norwegian’s 59th Champions League goal giving the French team a 2-0 advantage.
But Lyon weren’t done yet, and they looked like a threat whenever they went forward. This time it was Barcelona’s inability to clear the lines that mean Hegerberg could lay on the simplest of passes for Catarina Macário to bundle in from close range.
Barcelona looked shellshocked and were no doubt worried about a repeat of the 2019 Champions League final when they lost 4-1 to Lyon.
They did pull one goal back before the break though. In the 41st minute, Caroline Graham Hansen sent in a teasing cross that Putellas was able to stab home to reduce the deficit.
Jonatan Giráldez tried to change things at halftime to help his side get back into the game with Asisat Oshoala replacing Jenni Hermoso up top.
However, Lyon were able to play out the start of the second half without the Spanish champions threatening their goal.
In fact, Barcelona’s first real effort of the second half was almost an out-of-this-world goal. Patricia Guijarro noticed Endler off her line and shot from 50 yards – just inside the Lyon half – but was denied agonisingly by the crossbar.
The second half couldn’t keep up with the pace of the first – the heat inside the Juventus Stadium surely not helping either side. However, Barcelona substitute Oshoala had a great chance to narrow the lead with 15 minutes left to go but her header from close range went just wide.
Barcelona kept plugging away but Lyon held firm and almost extended their lead when Hegberg's volley struck the post in stoppage time.
Overall, the French side were worthy winners on the night – handing the Catalan side just their second loss of the entire season in the process.
✨ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝟖𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐒 ✨
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) May 21, 2022
La Women’s Champions League est de retour à la maison ! 🏆❤💙
Tout simplement 𝙇𝙚́𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 ! 🦁🔴🔵
1-3 #FCBOL #UWCLFinal pic.twitter.com/oPHhOeJbLT
1-3 | ||
Alexia Putellas 41' | Amandine Henry 6' Ada Hegerberg 23' Catarina Macário 33' |
