The 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final was the final match of the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Champions League, the 23rd season of Europe's premier women's club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 15th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Women's Cup to the UEFA Women's Champions League. The match was played at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain,[6] on 25 May 2024,[7][8][9] between Spanish club Barcelona and French club Lyon, a repeat of the 2019 and 2022 finals.
 San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao hosted the final | |||||||
| Event | 2023–24 UEFA Women's Champions League | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 25 May 2024 | ||||||
| Venue | San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao | ||||||
| Player of the Match | Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Rebecca Welch (England)[2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 50,827[3] | ||||||
| Weather | Partly cloudy 21 °C (70 °F) 55% humidity[4][5] | ||||||
Barcelona won the match 2–0 for their second consecutive and third overall UEFA Women's Champions League title.[10]
Teams
editIn the following table, finals until 2009 were in the UEFA Women's Cup era, since 2010 were in the UEFA Women's Champions League era.
| Team | Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|
 Barcelona
|
4 (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) |
 Lyon
|
10 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) |
The final was a repeat of the same fixture in 2019 and 2022, both of which were won by Lyon. It was framed as a coming together of the two giants of women's football – Barcelona being the more dominant team in the 2020s but never beating Lyon, while Lyon held an historic record of Champions League victories – and thus a match to decide which of the two was the overall best.[11][12][13][14]
Venue
editOn 16 July 2021, the UEFA Executive Committee announced that due to the loss of hosting rights for UEFA Euro 2020, San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao was given hosting rights for the 2024 final and the 2025 UEFA Europa League final. This was part of a settlement agreement by UEFA to recognise the efforts and financial investment made to host the European Championships.[6]
It was the third time that a UEFA Women's Champions League final was held in Spain, following the 2010 final in Getafe and the 2020 final in San Sebastián: Lyon contested both of the previous Spain-hosted finals, winning in 2020.[13] Barcelona had been drawn as the administrative home team, and reports said that the stadium felt like a true home match, with around 40,000 Barcelona fans travelling across Spain to attend.[11][15][16]
Official UEFA Fan Zones for both teams were hosted near the stadium in Bilbao, the first time fan zones were held for a Women's Champions League final. The expected popularity of the match prompted UEFA to have the fan zones,[17] with the exceptional number of travelling Barcelona fans – ultimately setting a world record for the largest travelling contingent in women's football[18] – and Bilbao's history of support for women's football suggested as reasons.[19]
Route to the final
editNote: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| Barcelona
|
Round | Lyon
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | ||||
 Benfica
|
5–0 (H) | Matchday 1 |  Slavia Prague
|
9–0 (A) | ||||
 Eintracht Frankfurt
|
3–1 (A) | Matchday 2 |  St. Pölten
|
2–0 (H) | ||||
 Rosengård
|
6–0 (A) | Matchday 3 |  Brann
|
3–1 (H) | ||||
| Rosengård
|
7–0 (H) | Matchday 4 | Brann
|
2–2 (A) | ||||
| Eintracht Frankfurt
|
2–0 (H) | Matchday 5 | St. Pölten
|
7–0 (A) | ||||
| Benfica
|
4–4 (A) | Matchday 6 | Slavia Prague
|
2–2 (H) | ||||
| Group A winners | Group finish | Group B winners | ||||||
| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Knockout phase | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Brann
|
5–2 | 2–1 (A) | 3–1 (H) | Quarter-finals | Benfica
|
6–2 | 2–1 (A) | 4–1 (H) |
 Chelsea
|
2–1 | 0–1 (H) | 2–0 (A) | Semi-finals | Paris Saint-Germain
|
5–3 | 3–2 (H) | 2–1 (A) |
Match
editSummary
edit
In the early minutes of the match, Barcelona defender Irene Paredes went down with ankle pain following a challenge from Lyon attacker Melchie Dumornay, but was able to continue; moments after play resumed, Dumornay created the first chance of the game but the ball was intercepted by Barcelona's Lucy Bronze. Barcelona immediately responded, but Salma Paralluelo's shot in the 6th minute was easily saved by Christiane Endler. Other chances fell to Barcelona, without success, before Lyon won a corner in the 14th minute and nearly scored from a mislaid clearance by Bronze before Cata Coll collected the ball at the second time of asking. Minutes later, Barcelona won a free kick in their attacking third, which was cleared, before winger Caroline Graham Hansen sent in another cross – this one dragged wide by an overlapping Bronze. Equal play resumed, including more physical challenges between Paredes and Dumornay, until the 28th minute, when Barcelona's Mariona Caldentey was able to win and carry the ball through the midfield unchallenged; her shot was messily saved by Endler. The next big chance fell to Lyon in the 36th minute, when Coll could only parry a cross back into the box; Paredes intercepted and Barcelona again took the ball to their attacking third through Graham Hansen. Calls for a penalty in the 37th minute after Paralluelo ended up on the ground in the box were dismissed and Lyon was awarded a free kick. They won a corner moments later, with imposing defender Wendie Renard's header easily saved by Coll. Graham Hansen spurred on Barcelona's attack before having her own good chance in the 44th minute, also dragging it wide. Following two additional minutes, the first half ended goalless.[20]
Lyon started the second half with a direct attempt on goal, looking the more dangerous side in the early minutes. Then, in the 55th minute, Barcelona's Keira Walsh attempted to play a through ball for Graham Hansen from the midfield, but referee Rebecca Welch accidentally got in the way and touched the ball, having to restart play – The Guardian's live report suggested Lyon had been saved by Welch's mistake and noted that Barcelona players were furious with it.[20] Chances at both ends in the next five minutes were prevented with relative ease before Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí weaved her way into the box and took her own shot; an upward deflection off Lyon defender Vanessa Gilles sent the ball over Endler and into the net to break the deadlock and make it 1–0 in the 63rd minute. In the 70th minute, Wendie Renard received a yellow card for a challenge on Graham Hansen; the resulting Barcelona free kick delivery was handballed by Lyon midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk, with another free kick awarded and blocked. Graham Hansen made another run into the box in the 75th minute, prevented from shooting by a last-second sliding tackle from Selma Bacha. Lyon then managed a run into the box in the 78th minute,[20] after Barcelona defender Ona Batlle was sent to the ground by Kadidiatou Diani's studs; Diani's attempted cross was punched away by Coll. In the process, Coll and Lyon's Lindsey Horan collided; both Coll, holding her ankle, and Batlle, with a face injury bleeding profusely, were treated on the pitch for several minutes.[20][21] Play resumed in the 83rd minute. In the remaining regulation time, Barcelona held possession without making a breakthrough, and Lyon had an 87th-minute attempt from Horan shot far off _target.[20]
There were six minutes of injury time added, with Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas introduced as a substitute in the 92nd minute: Putellas recovered the ball from Dumornay inside her own box in the 94th minute then scored from well-built team play in the 95th minute to make it 2–0. She received a yellow card in the 96th minute for excessive celebration, after taking her shirt off. The match ended shortly after the restart of play, for Barcelona's first victory over Lyon.[20]
Details
editThe "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.
         Barcelona[4]
|
     Lyon[4]
|
|
Player of the Match:
Assistant referees:[2]
|
Match rules[22]
|
Statistics
edit
|
|
|
Pre-match pitch protest
editDuring the pre-match anthems, two men carried a Palestinian flag bearing the slogans "Stop Genozide" and "EU don't be an accessory" onto the pitch before placing it on the ground along with the match banners. UEFA later said that the action had not been authorised, with the men reportedly wearing fake accreditation passes to gain access. The men left the pitch, and were apprehended by police who removed them from the stadium. No group has claimed the protest. While the crowd who noticed the action generally applauded it, the Israel Football Association described it as "wretched and cowardly"; Wembley Stadium was put on alert for similar protests ahead of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final that took place a week later on 1 June 2024.[24]
Aftermath
edit
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named player of the match.[1] With the victory, Barcelona successfully completed their first continental quadruple, defending their 2023 Women's Champions League title and winning all of the competitions they had featured in throughout the 2023–24 season.[25][26] As with the previous year, the team was given a formal reception by the Generalitat de Catalunya and City Council of Barcelona the day after the final, presenting their trophy haul to thousands of fans gathered in Plaça Sant Jaume.[27]
With Barcelona's victory, Lucy Bronze became the first English footballer to win five Champions League titles – including three with Lyon.[20]
See also
edit- 2024 UEFA Europa League final
- 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final
- 2024 UEFA Super Cup
Media related to FC Barcelona (women) reception at Plaça Sant Jaume, 26 May 2024 at Wikimedia Commons
References
edit- ^ a b c "Aitana Bonmatí named official UEFA Women's Champions League final Player of the Match". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Referee teams for 2024 UEFA club competition finals announced". UEFA. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Record crowd of 50,827 for Women's Champions League final in Spain". Bilbao: Associated Press. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Tactical Lineups – Final – Saturday 25 May 2024" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Barcelona v Lyon – Match info". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Venues appointed for club competition finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ "2023/24 UEFA Women's Champions League – match calendar and access list". UEFA Circular Letter. No. 68/2022. Union of European Football Associations. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "2023/24 Women's Champions League: Dates, provisional access list, full guide". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final: Bilbao". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Women's Champions League final report: Barcelona 2–0 Lyon". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b Braidwood, Jamie (25 May 2024). "Alexia Putellas: The 'queen' of Barcelona finally gets her moment to seal sweetest Women's Champions League yet". The Independent. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Women's Champions League final: Barcelona beat Lyon to retain title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Women's Champions League final, Barcelona vs Lyon: Beginners' guide | UEFA Women's Champions League". 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Bonals, Laia (25 May 2024). "El reinado de Europa en juego: dos estilos para una corona". El Periódico (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Barça players, fans celebrate historic UWCL win". ESPN.com. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "How Barcelona fans turned Bilbao into Camp Nou in UWCL final". ESPN.com. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Cuesta, Gabriel. "El despliegue en Bilbao por la final de la Champions femenina: 'fan zones', actividades en San Mamés y campo hinchable en la ría | El Correo". El Correo (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "40.000 culés ya toman Bilbao en otro récord global del femenino". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Mickey, Hans (4 May 2024). "Barça Femení Fan Zone for UWCL Final". Blaugranagram. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hawkins, Emillia (25 May 2024). "Barcelona v Lyon: Women's Champions League final – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Women's Champions League final: Barcelona beat Lyon to retain title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA. 1 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Full Time Report Final – Barcelona v Lyon" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Wembley on alert for pro-Palestine protests at Champions League final after 'wretched' stunt". Yahoo Sports. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Morse, Ben (25 May 2024). "Barcelona retains Women's Champions League title, completing historic quadruple". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Gil, Aimara G. (26 May 2024). "El inédito póquer en España". Diario AS (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Recepció equip femení de futbol del FC Barcelona (26.05.24)". Govern.cat. 26 May 2024.