TURIN: Lyon regained their pre-eminence in European women’s club football after winning an eighth UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 win over favourites Barcelona in Turin.

Barcelona had lost only once during the season but were stunned by a three-goal first-half salvo.

Amandine Henry struck a brilliant long-range strike to give them a lead that was doubled by a header from Ada Hegerberg, returning to Europe’s biggest stage for the first time since her 20-month injury lay-off.

The Norwegian forward then turned provider to set up Catarina Macario for a close-range finish to leave a shell-shocked Barca reeling.

Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas gave Barcelona hope just before the break with a low finish – her 33rd goal of the season and 11th of this Champions League campaign.

Jonatan Giraldez’s side then threw everything they could at Lyon, including an ambitious effort from Patricia Guijarro from close to halfway that hammered the bar, but the French side held firm to reclaim the European crown they last held in 2020.

It was predicted by many before kick-off that Saturday’s game would be a symbolic passing of the torch in women’s European football, from a Lyon side that dominated during the 2010s to a Barca team that had swept aside nearly all challengers in the past two years, including Chelsea in last year’s final.

But despite arriving in Turin with a competitive record of 41 wins and just one defeat in 2021-22, Barcelona simply could not match the French side for focus, ferocity and tactical nous in front of 32,257 fans at Juventus’ Allianz Arena.

Driven on by Champions League record scorer Hegerberg, Sonia Bompastor’s side exploited defensive frailty in their opponents, while keeping the Catalan side’s prolific attack at bay to seize firm control of the contest.

Henry’s goal was the pick of the bunch, arrowed into the top corner from 25 yards after she had returned to her feet following a ball-winning tackle. But Hegerberg provided the most regular threat.

Had she taken her chances, she could have repeated her feat of scoring a first-half hat-trick the last time these two met in the Champions League final – three years ago when Lyon were 4-1 victors.

Instead, Hegerberg settled for the one that took her record tally of goals in this tournament to 59 in 60 matches – and proved too big a gulf to bridge for a Barcelona side that had outscored their rivals 159-11 to win their domestic league by 24 points.

“It’s team work, team work all day long, baby,” said Hegerberg, who also struck the post with a volley in injury time. “Incredible team-mates, I’m very proud of them. Winning this one this year wasn’t easy.

“Resilience, hard work – it’s so motivating. I’m only 26 as well, so let’s keep this going.”

Putellas is considered the current best player in the world and so often an inspiration to this Barca side, but even this was beyond her considerable powers.

She did her bit, providing hope with her 41st-minute finish, but beyond that she was well marshalled in midfield.

Putellas saw plenty of the ball in a final 15 minutes spent almost exclusively in the Lyon half, but some dogged defending and misses from Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic and Irene Paredes saw the French side over the line.

It represented a notable personal triumph for their boss Bompastor, who became the first woman to win the Champions League as a player and manager. The former midfielder, 41, was part of the successful Lyon side in 2011 and 2012.

UEFA awards:

 UWCL seasonal awards. Goals from Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Arsenal’s Steph Katley are among the top 10 of the season.

Cheers

Andy

2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has selected its 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season: UEFA.com: https://bit.ly/3LIt75D

Alexia Putellas named 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named FC Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas the 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://bit.ly/3aahAyZ

Selma Bacha named 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Young Player of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named Olympique Lyonnais’ Selma Bacha as the 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Young Player of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://bit.ly/3LKViRO

2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League Goal of the Season: Amandine Henry tops Technical Observer selection

The top ten goals of the 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign have been selected by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel, with Amandine Henry’s long-range opener for Lyon in the final earning first billing as Goal of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://bit.ly/3G7AhiZ

#########