Barcelona Femení complete historic Quadruple with 2-0 win over Lyon in Women’s Champions League Final

Barcelona have made women’s football history by winning their first-ever Quadruple thanks to a 2-0 win in the Women’s Champions League Final against Lyon in front of over 50,000 fans at the iconic San Mamés Stadium on Saturday evening. Barça finally conquered their European nemesis and beat the French powerhouse for the first time in a very tense final to claim their third European title and second in a row to add to an unbeaten domestic Treble and end a truly unforgettable 2023-24 season in glorious fashion.

The Blaugrana had a difficult start to the game, losing the ball in dangerous positions in the first 15 minutes with some sloppy passing as they struggled against Lyon’s aggressive early press. Lucy Bronze almost scored an own goal with a header against the crossbar, and the Blaugrana were on the ropes at the start.

But they slowly began establishing their dominance once their passing became cleaner and the ball found Caroline Graham Hansen on the right wing. Graham was a menace with her direct running and dribbling ability, and she put the left side of Lyon’s defense in constant conflict and made Barça increasingly dangerous on that flank.

The Catalans were the dominant team towards the end of the period, and Graham missed a huge chance with a shot that went just wide after a brilliant solo run. Selma Bacha cleared a Patri Guijarro shot off the line, and Mariona Caldentey had an effort blocked inside the box as every Lyon clearance and intervention became more last-ditch.

The game was still goalless at halftime, but Barça were by far the better side and looked very close to taking the lead ahead of the final period.

Barça continued to have control of the game to start the second half, and also began making more dynamic runs in the final third to try and turn their superior possession into better chances. Lyon stayed well organized at the back, however, and Barça would need a moment of individual brilliance to unlock their nemesis.

And that moment of brilliance came from the world’s best player: Aitana Bonmatí made a fantastic off-ball run to get in behind the Lyon defense and saw her attempted left-foot shot deflect off Vanessa Gilles and go over the keeper and into the net to put Barça ahead of Lyon in a match for the first time ever, and give the Blaugrana a crucial lead with 25 minutes to go.

Lyon made an immediate charge forward looking for an instant equalizer, and Barça goalkeeper Cata Coll needed to make a couple of interventions to keep the Blaugrana ahead. But the Catalans looked more and more comfortable after that little period of Lyon pressure, dominating the ball even more as Aitana became a bigger influence in the flow of Barça’s passing.

But the Catalans couldn’t find a second goal to make sure of the victory, and Lyon made several attacking changes in a desperate attempt to score a late equalizer while Barça waited for the perfect counter-attack to double their lead and secure the title in the final 10 minutes.

Jonatan Giráldez used his substitutions to eat up some clock at the end, including the introduction of Alexia Putellas. The captain and icon then scored the all-important second goal with a brilliant finish in the sixth minute of added time, and Barça finally conquered Lyon.

The final whistle came to end a memorable evening at San Mamés, and Barça have won a historic Quadruple the only way they could have: by finally beating Lyon, and with the winning goals scored by the world’s best player, Aitana Bonmatí, and the greatest to ever do it, Alexia Putellas. A perfect night in every way.

What a team.