Barca's stars shine bright to deliver Champions League glory
Barcelona 2-0 Lyon: Barca are European champions once again thanks to Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
Photo: Uefa
SAN MAMES – A substitute appearance was all she needed. Alexia Putellas has struggled with her return from injury; that didn't matter. She replaced Keira Walsh, donned the captain's armband and got ready for her four-minute cameo. Putellas made those minutes count.
Barcelona were already ahead, Aitana Bonmati made sure that was the case in the 63rd minute. But that didn't stop Putellas making her impression. Just a minute after taking to the field she was tearing off her shirt, twirling it in the sky and sprinting towards a crowd waiting to laud their star.
Christiane Endler had no chance of stopping her strike. Putellas fired a cross past her at the near post with all the expected ferocity of someone wanting to silence the doubters. Now this is what her season will be remembered for, not her arduous path towards recovery.
Victory was not easy for Barcelona, they struggled for final product for over an hour. All it required was one moment of quality to capitalise where they had previously been lacklustre and when you're in need of some assistance, it helps if you can call on a Ballon D'Or winner.
So up stepped Bonmati to save the day. Mariona Caldentey spotted a gap in the otherwise organised Lyon back line, she flicked the ball towards the free space, then it was up to Bonmati to provide what was required.
She skipped past her defender with her eye set on Endler's goal and San Mames knew what was coming. A near-post shot gave the initial threat, a deflection off Vanessa Gilles guided it into the net. Barcelona went ahead; their fans went wild.
From the crowds who paraded past the Guggenheim to the bars filled with blue and red shirts and the acrid smell from their pyrotechnic-laden procession to the ground, this always felt like Barcelona's day. Lyon were outnumbered in the stands, but that wasn't necessarily the case on the pitch.
Photo: UEFA
On balance, Jonatan Giraldez' side probably had the better game – they definitely dominated possession. But Lyon were astute in defence and more than happy to wait for their chance to hit Barca on the break.
When they did it often caused problems. Catarina Coll seemed uneasy when faced with Lyon's deliveries and was lucky to manage to recover when she spilled an otherwise routine catch as Lindsey Horan jumped to head a Danielle van de Donk pass.
The French giants had been denied by the woodwork, too. Defender Wendie Renard struck the post when she volleyed after Coll failed to gather a corner, but nobody was there to make the most of it on the rebound.
Yet Lyon faced the same predicament as their opposition for much of the game: they just couldn't quite find the final product they needed. Chances against a team so adept as Barcelona will always be limited and you've got to put them away.
Until Bonmati delivered the goods it had been a frustrating afternoon for the Spanish league's winners. Fridolina Rolfo guided a Caroline Graham Hansen cross wide of the near post within the opening minutes and that set the tone for what would follow.
It did so in two ways: Barca would struggle to get beat Endler, but Graham Hansen would persevere. The Norwegian displayed her creative ability at its best. She spotted passes others would be reluctant to risk, drifted into space to create opportunities, charged at the Lyon back line when given the chance. In short, she was their greatest threat.
Others tried (and failed) to find the breakthrough. Caldentey had an effort stopped by Endler, it ricocheted off a Lyon defender, but Gilles managed to hook it off the line.
There was no lack of energy in Bilbao as both played creative football, building up impressive sequences of passes to try to get the crucial opener. Both teams just weren't productive enough.
In the end, though, Barca's struggles won't taint any memories. All that will matter is that Bonmati and Putellas, the shining lights in this already star-studded team, made their mark and brought home another trophy
Defeat in Spain will be tough for Lyon to take. They could make a strong argument that their performance deserved more than a silver medal, but they didn't do what was required. Sonia Bompastor will depart for her long-awaited appointment as Chelsea manager – albeit an appointment which is yet to be concerned – with vengeance on her mind.
It wasn't Barcelona's best work, but it was enough. They are now European champions and have the silverware to back up their claims that they are the best in the world.