Bonmati and Putellas produce on the biggest stage for history making Barcelona
Barcelona secured an unprecedented quadruple by retaining their Women's Champions League crown on Saturday.
In the cauldron of San Mames, filled to the brim with Barcelona supporters, Jonatan Giraldez’s side made history.
They beat Lyon 2-0 in the Women’s Champions League final to defeat their French foes at the fifth time of asking and complete a clean sweep of trophies.
This season they have won Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de Espana and now the Women’s Champions League to secure the club’s first ever quadruple.
It was the perfect send-off for outgoing head coach Giraldez, who will join NWSL side Washington Spirit after creating a dynasty in Barcelona.
The holders had been beaten by Lyon in two previous finals but were out for revenge in Bilbao with a side now full of both quality and experience of winning when it matters most.
The influential Caroline Graham Hansen again sparkled for Barcelona, as she has done all season, deservedly being crowned Player of the Match.
She had a weaving run forward after just four minutes before finding Salma Paralluelo, whose tame shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Moments later she delivered a teasing cross for Fridolina Rolfo, who volleyed wide as Barca pressed for an early opener in front of what was essentially a home crowd in the sunshine at San Mames.
The Norwegian was really in the mood, twisting and turning the Lyon defenders every time she got the ball and she dragged a low shot wide just before half-time.
Lyon’s first clear sight on goal came soon after the break as the experienced Wendie Renard blazed over the crossbar from close range, but in truth, they failed to really trouble Barcelona.
Ballon d’Or holder Aitana Bonmati had a quiet first period by her standards, but as she did in the semi-final, she popped up when it mattered most to break the deadlock just after the hour mark.
She danced her way into the box and got a bit of luck with a deflection which took her shot from a narrow angle beyond the goalkeeper and into the net, but it was no more than Barcelona deserved for their performance.
Then the crowning moment arrived for Barcelona’s queen, as not long after her introduction, Alexia Putellas, with the captain’s armband on made sure of the victory with a late second goal.
Putellas has had a frustrating season by her high standards as she tries to build herself back up to her scintillating form pre ACL injury, and will have been disappointed to have only come on for the six minutes of injury time at the end of the game.
Yet, her sweeping finish from inside the area capped off a great week for the Spanish forward, who also signed a new long-term deal at the club.
The celebrations that followed will live long in the memory for Barcelona fans as Putellas whipped her shirt off and the bench including Giraldez poured onto the pitch to celebrate.
It seemed written in the stars that Putellas would be the one to score the quadruple clinching goal given how integral she has been to driving the club to such high standards.
It was the perfect way to bring down the curtain on Giraldez’s glittering reign as boss as Barcelona lifted their third Champions League crown in four years, and whilst it wasn’t quite as dramatic as last year’s comeback 3-2 win against Wolfsburg it will have meant a lot to finally get over the line against Lyon.
Barcelona have rightly been crowned as the best team in Europe and it will be interesting to see if the new manager, whoever it may be, can continue to write another illustrious chapter in their history.
It will take a lot to outdo Giraldez, but the core of the squad is set to stay this summer and given their quality and winning mentality few would bet against Barcelona continuing to dominate women’s football for years to come.
For now they can bask in the glory of winning a historic quadruple, all thanks to Bonmati and Putellas.