Lyon 4-1 Barcelona: One step too far as French side win another Champions League

Lyon 4-1 Barcelona: One step too far as French side win another Champions League

El Olympique de Lyon no dio opciones al Barça
El Olympique de Lyon no dio opciones al Barça | sport

Lyon stand alone in European football after winning a fourth successive Champions League

It was not to be. Nor did it ever look on. Lyon made it clear that Barcelona still have to improve if they want to win the Champions League as the French side won their fourth successive European crown with a 4-1 win. The result was predictable but it was tough how it arrived, in a lethal opening half an hour, but Barça will treat their first European final as a learning curve. You have to fall to pick yourself up. 

MATCH FACTS
UEFA Women's Champions League

OLY

4 ________________ 1

FCB

LINE UP

Olympique Lyon

Bouhaddi; Bronze, M'Bock, Renard, Majri; Henry, Fishlock (Kumagai, 72'); Van de Sanden (Cascarino, 63'), Marozsan, Le Sommer (Bacha, 83') y Hegerberg

FC Barcelona

Paños; Torrejón, Pereira (Van der Gragt, 81'), Mapi León, Leila; Aitana Bonmatí (Andressa Alves, 69'), Vicky Losada, Alexia; Mariona, Duggan (Oshoala, 69') y Lieke Martens

Goles

1-0 M.5: Marozsan. 2-0 M.14: Hegerberg. 3-0 M.19: Hegerberg. 4-0 M.30: Hegerberg. 4-1 M.89: Oshoala

Árbitra

Anastasia Pustovoitova (Rusia). Amonestó a Hegerberg y Renard.

Campo

Ferencvaros Stadium (Budapest). 19.487 espectadores

The faces of the Barça players going out on to the pitch said everything: there were nerves. The 19,487 fans that filled the Ferencvaros Stadium, the trophy in the middle of the pitch, epic music... this was a Champions League final and Barça found that out from the start. 

Because after an early chance for Toni Duggan -- the England forward dragged wide -- Lyon killed the game. Van de Sanden, the surprise pick in the French side, found space on the right and set up home favourite Marozsan to turn home from the penalty spot with Sandra Paños out of position. And the French side didn't stop there. From the mouth of 'Daenerys' Hegerberg came the words "Dracarys"and everything started to burn.

Lyon smelt blood and they were too good for Barça, whose dream quickly became a cruel reality. Van de Sanden again was the provider for the second goal, setting up Hegerberg in the 14th minute to make it two. Shortly after, in the 19th minute, the Norwegian striker added here second and with half an hour gone she made it four, after a perfect cross from Lucy Bronze. A lesson in effectiveness, quality and rhythm had been served. 

That said, true to their style, Barça tried to react. They were brave, wanting the ball, and Lluis Cortes' side could have levelled before the break when Alexia headed over. 

Barça had more ball after the break but the result, obviously, was never in doubt. Lyon knew they had the game wrapped up and the attitude of the two sides differed from the first half. There were chances for Lieke Martens and Vicky Losada and Barça posed more of a threat when Asisat Oshoala came on for Toni Duggan after an hour. With the minutes ticking down, the Nigerian grabbed a consolation goal for Barça after a good pass from Martens. It was the Catalan's first goal in a Champions League final. And given what we have seen this season -- despite this result against Lyon -- it will not be the last.