Contrary to expectations, Lyon grabbed its victory in the eighth women’s soccer championship league in history in Turin on Saturday when it defeated Barcelona 3-1 to dominate the European courts in the final.
22.5. 13:22 • Updated May 22nd. 13:42
It was supposed to be an evening in Barcelona.
The Catalan giant, who had sovereign control over the fields of his country and Europe, had gone from victory to victory. In the Spanish league, Barcelona won all 30 matches they played with a devastating goal difference of 159-11. In the Champions League, it had lost only one of ten matches. There was little bet either, as Barcelona had won the semi-finals 5-1 against Wolfsburg. The goal difference was 37-7 in favor of Barcelona.
Experts around the world believed Barcelona would raise the trophy in Turin, some even crushed. Lyon, which sovereignly controlled European women’s soccer in the 2010s, should not have had any chance.
However, the opposite happened. After a convincing performance, Lyon marched to the eighth championship in history. When a Finnish judge Lina Lehtovaara whistled to signal the end of the match, the score was 3-1 in favor of Lyon.
The audience may have been surprised, but the Lyon players did not.
– We didn’t doubt ourselves for a moment. We’ve worked hard and focused on what we need to do to create these scoring spots. We knew we were facing a really good team and we prepared for it well, Lyon scored another goal Ada Hegerberg assured NRK. (switch to another service)
Hegerberg, who won the first Ballon d’Or award for women in 2018, was on the sidelines for a long time. He broke his bandage in January 2020, after which the injuries followed one another and the return to action was delayed.
In Turin, however, the Norwegian striker showed that the injuries have been covered and reminded him why he is said to be one of the best in the world. Hegerberg pushed Lyon’s 2-0 lead over 21-year-old winger during the match Selma Bachan from a great initialization and initialized himself Catarina Macarion 3–0 hits.
The best scorer of all time in the Women’s Champions League admitted after the match that winning means a lot to her.
– It means an insane amount to me. There is so much work behind this. Until a year ago, I sat on the couch with my foot towards the ceiling. And now be back here … I have no words, Hegerberg commented with emotion.
Hegerberg was sidelined from Lyon’s previous Champions League final in 2020 precisely because of a knee injury. In the spring 2019 final against Barcelona, he had fired a hat trick when Lyon won 4-1.
The football crowd will also be able to enjoy the performances of the Norwegian striker at the summer European Championships, as Hegerberg returned to the national team after a five-year break. She withdrew from the national team after a poorly run European Championship tournament in 2017 and criticized the actions of the national football association against the women’s national team.
– I’m only 26 years old, so let’s not let this go on!
No excuses
Lyon’s performance was convincing as the team managed to disarm Barcelona. It squeezed high and put Barcelona’s defense tight. The Catalans were not used to playing in a losing position and the team’s stars did not reach their level in the final.
Barcelona’s openings were slow and the finish didn’t work. Selected as the best player in the world last year Alexia Putellas succeeded Barca camp as the only goal scorer as he continued Caroline Graham Hansen concentration from air to finish at the end of the opening period.
– I don’t want to make excuses. We should have played faster, our players know it. Our offensive game should have been better, Barcelona head coach Jonathan Giraldez admitted.
– Every loss hurts, but we knew this match was special. We had the opportunity to change history in our favor.
Giraldez failed to grab his first Champions League victory as head coach. Until last season, he served as the team’s assistant coach, but jumped to head coach in early July when the success coach Lluís Cortés was surprised to leave.
Pilot of Lyon Sonia Bompastorin the game plan instead succeeded. Lyon effectively punished the mistakes of Barcelona’s defensive head and defended his lead perfectly in the second period. Bompastor became the first female coach to win the Champions League and the first woman to win the competition as both a player and a coach. The former national team player celebrated the Champions League victory in 2011 and 2012 with Lyon.
Bompastor rose from the position of club club leader to team head coach at the end of last season when Lyon showed the door Jean-Luc Vasseurille. Last season, the club dropped out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals and lost the championship to PSG.
At the same time, Barcelona made a convincing impression both in its national league and in Europe. Many were ready to give the scepter to Barcelona in advance.
– We showed the whole of Europe that we are still here, Selma Bacha, who brought up the Lyon Academy, pointed out.