The Barça Women football team have overcome OL Lyonnes 4-0 to claim their fourth Champions League title! The whole team performed admirably, but a special mention goes to Cata Coll, who was unbeatable in the blaugrana goal, and to goalscorers Pajor and Salma, who both got a brace on another special day for the Club. Pajor was named MVP of the match.

The win in Oslo is their second WCL final victory in Scandinavia. It was also the fourth meeting between Barça and OL Lyonnes in the final of Europe’s premier club competition, and the blaugrana victory today makes it two final wins each.

Balanced first half

The final got off to a lively start as both sides pressed with intent, allowing limited time on the ball. The first shot in earnest came from the blaugranes, a right foot effort by Alexia that went just wide of the post after good work down the right by Graham Hansen after 11 minutes.

OL Lyonnes thought they had taken the lead after 14 minutes. A free kick from the right was headed towards goal by captain Wendie Renard. Cata Coll made a great save diving to her right and Heaps followed up to score for OL Lyonnes, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The French side were trying to make inroads down the channels, while stopping Barça playing through the middle. All the same, a long ball by Alexia after 18 minutes caused confusion in the OL Lyonnes defence and Pajor chipped just wide. The blaugrana captain then made a great block as Hegerberg shot on 24 minutes, as the French side started to take more control as the half went on.

The blaugranes then came back into the game somewhat, and the ball broke for Alexia, whose pass to the right found Pajor who shot wide after 34 minutes. Two minutes later, Salma did well down the left and her dangerous ball across the box just needed a finish.

Cata Coll was then twice called into action as a free kick conceded by Pajor saw a Pacho shot turned around the post by the blaugrana keeper, before she claimed the resulting corner with authority.

One more chance for the blaugranes in first half added time, as Patri spread the ball out to Graham Hansen who cut inside and forced a corner with a left foot shot.

Blaugranes take control to claim Champions League number four

Barça came out much more determined after the break, Graham Hansen threatening first, as her shot went wide after 49 minutes. The breakthrough finally came on 55 minutes, as Patri threaded a left foot pass to Pajor and the Polish striker took a great touch before firing across Endler into the far post, becoming top scorer in the Champions League this season in the process.

The goal forced OL Lyonnes to search for the equaliser and Cata Coll saved well from a Lawrence low shot to her left after good combination play by the French side on 61 minutes. Four minutes later, captain Alexia stood firm to block a goalbound shot.

A second goal on 69 minutes for the blaugranes calmed any fears of conceding an equaliser, and there was Pajor again in the middle of the goal to finish. A Brugts cross from the left diverted off substitute Pina to Salma, who kept it alive to feed the Pole to score. OL Lyonnes kept pushing though, and Cata Coll had to save again, this time one-on-one from substitute Chawinga.

The game seemed to be winding down, but there were still two key moments to come from the same player. On 90 minutes, Salma picked up a loose ball and fired in a stunning left foot strike that arrowed into the top right of the goal out of Endler’s reach, before three minutes later, a break saw the forward get her brace with a low left foot shot across the keeper after a pass from Pajor.

A fourth Champions League win, som hi!

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    MATCH STATS

    Barça 4
    OL Lyonnes 0

    Barça: Cata Coll, Paredes, María León, Paralluelo, Graham (Pina, min 62), Alexia (Kika, min 84), Patri, C. Serrajordi (Aitana, min 72), Pajor, Batlle and Brugts (Aïcha, min 84)
    OL Lyonnes: Endler, Renard, Bacha, Dumornay, Becho (Chawinga, min 66), Heaps, Lawrence, Hegerberg (Katoto, min 66), Engen, Yohannes (Shrader, min 72) and Brand

    Goals: 1-0, Pajor (min 55); 2-0, Pajor (min 69); 3-0, Salma (min 90), Salma (min 93)

    Referee: Tess Olofsson. Yellow cards for Alexia (min 68) and Cata Coll (min 88) from Barça and Dumornay (min 73) from OL Lyonnes.

    Força Barça