BONMATI AND PUTELLAS GIVE BARCELONA THIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE
Barcelona sealed their third Champions League trophy and retained the title for the first time in their history with a 2-0 win over Lyon in Bilbao.
Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring on 63 minutes as she slotted home after being slid through by Maria Caldentey, giving departing manager Jonatan Giraldez the perfect parting gift.
Alexia Putellas, Barca’s all-time leading goalscorer and injury-riddled captain, rose off the bench in the dying embers to double their advantage late on, sweeping home left-footed and celebrating with her shirt over head and a bow to her adoring fans.
It was, however, a bittersweet end to Sonia Bompastor’s reign as Lyon boss, with the club losing to Barca for the first time in their history.
The win was thoroughly deserved, with the Catalans playing the better football throughout, buoyed by their midfield maestro Bonmati and their dangerous young starlet Salma Paralluelo up front, who was a thorn in the side of the French champions.
In a game where both sides threw caution to the wind, there were chances aplenty.
Mariona Caldentey saw an effort in the first half cleared off the line, while Lyon captain Wendie Renard lashed over the top when she was afforded too much space in the Barcelona box.
Kadidiatou Diani’s curler wasn’t far away as Lyon sought to restore their foothold in the game, but it was Putellas who stole it at the death, as she so often has done, to seal a stunning quadruple for Giraldez’s Culers.