Photo Credit: Ane Frosaker / SPP
FC Barcelona Feminí triumphed with a decisive 4-0 victory over OL Lyonnes, securing their fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League title on Saturday in Oslo, Norway. The Catalan giants demonstrated their dominance, with Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo each netting twice in a powerful second-half performance.
While OL Lyonnes, featuring U.S. women’s national team players Lindsey Heaps, Lily Yohannes, and Korbin Shrader, controlled much of the first half, they failed to convert their opportunities into goals. Barcelona’s lack of shots on target in the first 45 minutes suggested a sluggish start, but they quickly found their rhythm in the second half.
Pajor broke the deadlock just ten minutes after the restart, calmly placing a well-placed shot past Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler, following a precise assist from Patri Guijarro. This marked Pajor’s tenth goal of the season, putting her in the spotlight as the competition’s leading scorer. She soon doubled her tally in the 69th minute, taking advantage of a setup by Paralluelo to showcase the team’s attacking prowess.
Paralluelo added to the scoreline during stoppage time, finding the net twice in a brilliant three-minute span. Pajor repaid the earlier favor, providing an assist for Paralluelo’s second goal, further cementing Barcelona’s commanding performance.
Barcelona head coach Pere Romeu expressed his relief and satisfaction post-match, remarking on the team’s hard work and collective spirit throughout the campaign. “We valued having won it even more – and having won it the way we won it,” he noted, highlighting crucial saves from goalkeeper Cata Coll that kept their opponents at bay.
Pajor was awarded the Vodafone Player of the Match, marking a remarkable turnaround after experiencing disappointment in her previous five final appearances with Wolfsburg and Barcelona. Reflecting on the match, she expressed her gratitude and joy, declaring it the best day of her life.
This victory marks Barcelona’s fourth Champions League title, following their successes in the 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 seasons. With this latest triumph, they have reached an unprecedented sixth consecutive final and their seventh in eight years, underscoring their dominance in European women’s football. Their previous encounters against OL have seen Barcelona emerge victorious this time, after losses in 2018/19 and 2021/22. The 4-0 win also matches their previous margin against Chelsea in the 2021 final, solidifying their status as one of the top teams in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
