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Dutch internationals Daniëlle van de Donk and Damaris Egurrola missed out on their second final victory in the Champions League with Olympique Lyon. Defending champion Barcelona, with Esmee Brugts as substitute, was too strong 2-0 in the final in Bilbao. Spanish international Aitana Bonmatí, voted best football player of last year in January, and substitute Alèxia Putellas were accurate.
With Barcelona – Olympique Lyon, the Champions League had a dream final. The champions of Spain and France shared the final victories in the previous eight editions: the French team won six times, Barça was in Eindhoven last year and the best in Europe in 2021. The meeting in Bilbao was a repeat of the 2019 and 2022 finals, which record winners Lyon won both times.
Barcelona, with the support of many of their own fans, was dominant in the first half. Yet Lyon came closest to the opening goal after just fifteen minutes. First, Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze headed the ball onto her own crossbar, then a bet from Lyon captain Wendie Renard ended up on the post.
Opportunities on both sides
Barcelona became dangerous through captain Patricia Guijarro and the Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen. An attempt by Guijarro was eventually cleared off the line after a clunky situation, Hansen shot wide just before half time.
Both teams also had chances in the second half. Renard headed over before Bonmatí gave Barcelona the lead after more than an hour. The world champion was given plenty of room to shoot and saw her attempt end up in the goal via a French leg. Putellas decided the game in injury time with a hard shot. Brugts was allowed to come on in the 85th minute. For her, who came over from PSV last summer, it is her first Champions League title. (AP)
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