Women’s Champions League: Barcelona come back from 2-0 down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 to win second title

Barcelona won a second Women’s Champions League title after coming from behind in impressive fashion to beat German giants Wolfsburg.

Buoyed by their instant response in the second half, Barcelona piled on the pressure and were finally rewarded.

Fridolina Rolfo sealed the win, firing into the roof of the net from close range with 20 minutes remaining.

After losing the crown to Lyon last year’s final, Barcelona traveled to Eindhoven as favorites against a very strong Wolfsburg, who were looking for a third European trophy in 10 years.

Wolfsburg got off to the perfect start when the competition’s top scorer Ewa Pajor stole the ball from England defender Lucy Bronze, returning from knee surgery in April, to set up the opener.

Germany international Alexandra Popp was then set up by Pajor with a teasing cross – the striker had made no mistake when she headed in Wolfsburg’s second.

Barcelona had lacked fluidity and patience in the first half, but it was no surprise that they rallied, showing the quality of football that helped them reach their fourth final in five seasons.

Barcelona’s winners included England midfielder Keira Walsh, who claimed her first European title, while Bronze became the first English woman to win the trophy with two different clubs after winning it on three consecutive occasions with former club Lyon between 2018 and 2020.

Bronze makes history as Walsh tries for success

Bronze became a serial winner of this competition while in Lyon, picking up the last of their titles for this final when they beat Wolfsburg in 2020.

She knew she could make history by winning a fourth crown with a second club, but it was a disastrous start when she lost possession to Pajor and was punished for her cruelty.

It continued to be a tough first half for the Bronze. He had his hands full with Pajor and couldn’t make as much progress as he would have liked.

As the game progressed, Barcelona’s quality came forward with superstars Caroline Graham Hansen and Aitana Bonmati showing individual skill down the right to set up Guijarro twice in as many minutes.

Walsh was marked for most of the game and had little impact before being substituted late on after Maria Caldentey put her into the path of Rolfo for Barcelona’s third.

But it was an unforgettable evening for the former Manchester City player, who won her first European title in her debut season with Barcelona after leaving her boyhood club for a season last summer. world record transfer fee.

It caps off an impressive year for England duo Bronze and Walsh, who played a key role in the Lionesses’ success at Euro 2022 and add this trophy to the Spanish league they won a few weeks ago.

Popp equals the record but can’t secure the win

It was a field full of world-class talent, one of them being German striker Popp. She never stopped delivering.

The 32-year-old was chasing a fourth title to add to the trophy she won with Duisburg in 2009 and the two she had already won with Wolfsburg.

He scored the opener the last time Wolfsburg won the Champions League in 2014 and this time he was deadly in the box when he headed in Pajor’s cross to make it 2-0.

That goal meant she equaled former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg’s competition record in four separate finals.

Against other opponents, this goal might have given Wolfsburg a comfortable cushion at the break, but Wolfsburg were stunned by Barcelona’s quality after the break.

Such was the strength of their opposition’s depth, they were able to bring on exciting Brazilian striker Geyse and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, although she was back to full form after recovering from a anterior cruciate ligament injury.

But despite finishing on the losing side, Popp’s form in his 11th season with Wolfsburg has been excellent and he hopes that will continue at the World Cup which starts in Australia and New Zealand on July 20.