Barcelona claim second Champions League crown

Published on: 03 June 2023

Barcelona were playing in their fourth final in five seasons

Barcelona won a second Women's Champions League title after coming from behind in stunning fashion to beat German giants Wolfsburg.

The Spanish champions trailed 2-0 at half-time before Patri Guijarro's two-minute brace pulled them level.

Spurred on by their instant response in the second half, Barcelona piled on the pressure and were eventually rewarded.

Fridolina Rolfo got the winner, thumping it into the roof of the net from close range with 20 minutes left.

After losing their crown to Lyon in last year's final, Barcelona travelled to Eindhoven as favourites against a very strong Wolfsburg side, who were seeking a third European trophy in 10 years.

Wolfsburg got off to the perfect start when competition top scorer Ewa Pajor robbed the ball off England defender Lucy Bronze, returning after knee surgery in April, to drive in the opener.

Germany international Alexandra Popp was then set-up by Pajor with a teasing cross - the striker making no mistake as she headed in Wolfsburg's second.

Barcelona had lacked fluency and patience in the first half but it was no surprise they bounced back, displaying the quality of football that helped them reach a fourth final in five seasons.

Among Barcelona's winners was England midfielder Keira Walsh, who picked up her first European title, while Bronze became the first English woman to win the trophy with two different clubs after winning it on three consecutive occasions with former club Lyon between 2018 and 2020.

    Reaction to the Champions League final

Bronze creates history as Walsh tastes successEngland's Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh (centre) were part of the squad that won Euro 2022

Bronze became a serial winner of this competition while at Lyon, picking up the last of her titles going into this final when they beat Wolfsburg in 2020.

She knew she could create history by winning a fourth crown with a second club but it was a disastrous start when she lost possession to Pajor and was punished by her ruthlessness.

It continued to be a tough first half for Bronze. She had her hands full with Pajor and was not able to get forward as much as she liked.

"We made it hard for ourselves in the first half even though we created so many chances," Bronze told Dazn.

"We knew we had enough quality to come back into any game. I don't think we were ever worried about scoring three goals, which is a crazy feat to do, but that's the talent within this team.

"It was definitely difficult at the end having not played for five weeks, but I'm so happy to have played my part for the team."

As the game wore on, Barcelona's quality pulled through with superstars Caroline Graham Hansen and Aitana Bonmati showing individual skill on the right to set-up Guijarro twice in as many minutes.

Walsh was marked out for most of the game and had little impact before she was substituted late on after Maria Caldentey poked it into Rolfo's path for Barcelona's third.

But it was an unforgettable evening for the former Manchester City player, winning her first European title in her debut season for Barcelona after leaving childhood club last summer for a world-record transfer fee.

It caps off a stunning year for English duo Bronze and Walsh, who played a key role in the Lionesses' success at Euro 2022 and add this trophy to the Spanish league title they secured a few weeks ago.

"It's been a pretty good year with the Euros and the Champions League," added Walsh.

"To play for Barcelona in front of these fans is a special, special feeling. This club gives you that."

Popp equals record but can't secure winAlexandra Popp has won three Champions League titles

It was a pitch packed full of world-class talent, one of those being Germany striker Popp. She did not fail to deliver.

The 32-year-old was chasing a fourth title to add the trophy she won with Duisburg in 2009 and the two she had already won with Wolfsburg.

She scored the opening goal the last time Wolfsburg won the Champions League in 2014 and she was deadly in the box this time around when she headed in Pajor's teasing cross to make it 2-0.

That goal meant she equalled former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg's competition record of scoring in four separate finals.

Against different opposition, that goal may have given Wolfsburg a comfortable cushion at half-time, but Wolfsburg were blown away by Barcelona's quality after the break.

Such was the strength of their opponent's depth, they were able to bring on exciting Brazilian forward Geyse and Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, still returning to full fitness following recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

But despite ending up on the losing side, Popp's form in her 11th season with Wolfsburg has been excellent and she will hope that continues at the World Cup which kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsBarcelona Femenino

Formation 4-3-3

1Paños15Bronze2Paredes4León Cebrián16Rolfö14Bonmatí21Walsh12Guijarro Gutiérrez10Hansen9Caldentey Oliver17Paralluelo

    1Paños15Bronze2ParedesBooked at 90mins4León Cebrián16Rolfö14BonmatíBooked at 33minsSubstituted forPutellasat 90'minutes21WalshSubstituted forEngenat 90'minutes12Guijarro Gutiérrez10HansenSubstituted forCrnogorcevicat 79'minutes9Caldentey OliverSubstituted forPinaat 79'minutes17ParallueloSubstituted forda Silva Ferreiraat 70'minutes

Substitutes

    3Codina5Fernández Velasco6Pina7Crnogorcevic8Torrejón11Putellas13Coll Lluch18da Silva Ferreira19Vilamala22Rábano23Engen30López Serrano Félix

VfL Wolfsburg Ladies

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Frohms2Wilms4Hendrich6Janssen13Rauch14Roord5Oberdorf23Jónsdóttir10Huth9Pajor11Popp

    1Frohms2WilmsSubstituted forHegeringat 84'minutes4HendrichBooked at 22mins6Janssen13Rauch14RoordSubstituted forLattweinat 71'minutes5Oberdorf23JónsdóttirBooked at 77mins10Huth9PajorSubstituted forBremerat 84'minutes11PoppBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

    3Agrez7Bremer8Lattwein17Demann20Wolter21Blomqvist24Wedemeyer28Waßmuth29Brand30Weiß31Hegering77Kiedrzynek

Referee:Cheryl FosterMatch StatsHome TeamBarcelona FemeninoAway TeamVfL Wolfsburg LadiesPossessionHome66%Away34%ShotsHome25Away8Shots on TargetHome7Away6CornersHome5Away1FoulsHome7Away13Live Text Post update

Match ends, Barcelona Femenino 3, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies 2.

90'+9'Full Time

Second Half ends, Barcelona Femenino 3, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies 2.

90'+9'Post update

Attempt saved. Pauline Bremer (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Felicitas Rauch with a cross.

90'+9'Post update

Corner, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies. Conceded by Irene Paredes.

90'+8'Post update

Foul by Geyse Ferreira (Barcelona Femenino).

90'+8'Post update

Dominique Janssen (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+6'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

90'+6'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Patri Guijarro (Barcelona Femenino).

90'+4'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

90'+4'Booking

Irene Paredes (Barcelona Femenino) is shown the yellow card.

90'+4'Booking

Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies) is shown the yellow card.

90'+3'Post update

Delay in match (Barcelona Femenino).

90'+2'Post update

Offside, Barcelona Femenino. Patri Guijarro tries a through ball, but Geyse Ferreira is caught offside.

90'Post update

Foul by Geyse Ferreira (Barcelona Femenino).

90'Post update

Kathrin Hendrich (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Substitution

Substitution, Barcelona Femenino. Ingrid Engen replaces Keira Walsh.

90'Substitution

Substitution, Barcelona Femenino. Alexia Putellas replaces Aitana Bonmatí.

87'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

86'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg Ladies).

85'Post update

Offside, VfL Wolfsburg Ladies. Dominique Janssen tries a through ball, but Pauline Bremer is caught offside.

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Source: bbc.com

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