The final loss against Lyon 2019 (1-4) was bitter.
But the loss also became the fuel needed for Barcelona to develop into the Catalan winning machine that in recent years has run over basically everything and everyone that got in its way.
In Turin, the seven-time champions Lyon waited for a replay of that final three years ago. Now the idea was that Barcelona would both secure a new title and also once and for all prove that Lyon’s time at the top of women’s football is over.
About half an hour later, that dream seemed to be hopelessly far away. Then Lyon, with the Swedish goalkeeper Emma Holmgren on the bench, had made 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0.
First through Amandine Henry who threw himself and won a duel against Barcelona’s team captain Alexia Putellas. Then, from a distance, she screwed an unreachable shot into the crossbar.
After a video review, the goal was approved despite the Barcelona players’ protests – they felt that Henry’s sliding tackle broke the rules.
Despite the cold shower, Barcelona tried to press for an equalizer. Among other things, Fridolina Rolfö broke out on her left wing and served her teammate Jennifer Hermoso with a low input. But Hermoso, almost free in the penalty area, came completely wrong to the ball and failed to get off a dangerous shot towards goal.
Norwegian Ada Hegerberg then scored Lyon’s second goal via a post from Selma Bacha. The third goal was a bid where Barcelona’s defense failed to clear the ball in their own penalty area, which meant that Catarina Macario could justifiably easily put the ball in goal.
Finally, in the 41st minute, Alexia Putellas gave some hope to her Barcelona when she reduced the final to 1-3.
The second half became more of a position war where Barcelona continued to chase goals. Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez did what he could in the form of sending in players such as Dutchman Lieke Martens and Asisat Oshola, Nigeria.
With a quarter of an hour left to play, Fridolina Rolfö was also replaced. But Barcelona never came closer than a rib hit and a shot that swept close outside the post.
The final victory was Lyons’ eighth and means that the Swede Emma Holmgren can call herself Champions League champion. For Fridolina Rolfö, however, it was the second final loss of her career after the 28-year-old also lost to Lyon when she played in Wolfsburg (2020, 1-3).
Facts. Last ten years of Champions League finals
2013: Wolfsburg – Lyon (1–0).
2014: Wolfsburg – Tyresö (4–3).
2015: Frankfurt – Paris Saint-Germain (2–1).
2016: Lyon – Wolfsburg (4-3 after penalties).
2017: Lyon – Paris Saint-Germain (7-6 after penalties).
2018: Lyon – Wolfsburg (4-1 after extra time).
2019: Lyon – Barcelona (4–1).
2020: Lyon – Wolfsburg (3–1).
2021: Barcelona – Chelsea (4-0).
21 May 2022: Barcelona – Lyon (1-3).
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