BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona has set the stage for an intriguing encounter against former coach Jonatan Giráldez and his OL Lyonnes in Oslo. This follows their victory over Bayern Munich on Sunday, where they secured a 4-2 win in the semifinal second leg at Camp Nou, resulting in a 5-3 aggregate score and advancing to their sixth consecutive Champions League final.
After a 1-1 draw in Munich last week, the three-time champions looked poised to reach the final on May 23, especially after Alexia Putellas netted her second goal of the match, giving them a 4-1 lead over Bayern.
Barcelona enjoyed a stellar start, with Pere Romeu’s team performing exceptionally well in the first hour. The combination of Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo on the flanks proved to be unstoppable, while Ewa Pajor maintained her threatening presence in front of goal, Putellas was in all the key moments, and Aitana Bonmatí came off the bench for her first appearance since her injury in November. Giráldez, who formerly led Barça to victory over Lyonnes in the 2024 final, would have been pondering how to overcome his old team, which remains undefeated in 31 matches across all competitions.
However, the final 30 minutes highlighted Barcelona’s vulnerabilities, especially following their defeat to Arsenal in last year’s final. Bayern, who had gone 29 matches unbeaten since losing 7-1 to Barça in October, exerted considerable pressure, raising questions for coach José Barcala about why the team didn’t attack sooner.
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Putellas’ second goal ignited a response from Bayern, with Pernille Harder scoring in the 71st minute, triggering a barrage from the visitors. They struck the crossbar twice, had a goal disallowed due to a foul, and witnessed numerous shots either blocked or saved by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Cata Coll. They fought until the end.
“Right now, it’s too painful,” lamented Bayern’s Giulia Gwinn. “I know we can feel proud, but that will come with time. We had opportunities, hit the woodwork, and I can’t explain why the goal was ruled out. It’s frustrating, as we felt we were still in the game.”
Despite the late surge from Bayern, Barça showcased superior play overall, outshooting their opponents 23 to 12 and finishing with an expected goals (xG) of 3.25 compared to Bayern’s 0.99. Though they only led 2-1 at halftime, the margin could easily have been larger.
Barcelona now readies for a renewed rivalry with Lyonnes, the most successful club in European women’s soccer in the last decade, adding an enticing twist since they will face Giráldez.
Current Barça coach Romeu was a member of Giráldez’s coaching staff from 2021 to 2024 when the team secured back-to-back Champions League titles in 2023 and 2024. Since Giráldez’s switch to the Washington Spirit, Barça has yet to reclaim European supremacy.
It was unexpected for Giráldez to return to European coaching so swiftly, making the move to Lyonnes after just a year in the U.S. This adds an exciting layer to a matchup already rich in history.
This will mark the fourth final between these two sides, with Lyonnes having triumphed in 2019 and 2022, emphasizing their previous dominance over Barça. However, Barça’s victory in Bilbao in 2024 indicated a shift in balance. Now both teams contend for the title of the top force in women’s soccer, and the upcoming final in Oslo will determine who truly holds the crown.
Barcelona certainly made a strong statement in the early minutes against Bayern. With Franziska Kett suspended from the first leg, Graham Hansen thrived in the opening moments, creating numerous opportunities. Her excellent cross set up Paralluelo for the first goal in the 13th minute.
Bayern startled the 60,000 crowd at Camp Nou by equalizing just four minutes later, as a defensive lapse allowed Harder to assist Linda Dallmann. However, Barcelona quickly regained momentum.
Putellas had already threatened with a loose ball in the box. When the chance came, she expertly sent it past Ena Mahmutovic, celebrating with her signature bow to the fans. This marked her eighth consecutive home match in the competition with a goal or assist.
Barcelona could have added more goals before halftime, with Esmee Brugts notably missing several chances. They firmly took control of the match in the second half.
Paralluelo’s selection over Clàudia Pina proved remarkable, with Paralluelo delivering her best performance of the season and assisting Pajor to extend the score to 3-1 in the 54th minute.
Just four minutes later, Putellas displayed her skill with a deft finish to further extend Barcelona’s lead. She leads the Champions League this season with a total of 14 goal contributions—eight goals and six assists. Notably, she surpassed César Rodríguez to become the club’s second-highest scorer in history, with only Lionel Messi (672) ahead of her with 233 goals, as per ESPN Global Soccer Research.
Putellas remains a vital asset for Barça, but her contract situation raises concerns. Her agreement expires this summer, and there are no signs of a renewal, prompting speculation about her future. Her reaction upon being substituted late in the match suggested uncertainty about wearing the Barça shirt again in Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Bonmatí made her return to the pitch in a Barcelona shirt for the first time since November, entering just as Bayern began to push aggressively. While she may not have enjoyed some of the chances created by the German champions, she is thrilled to be back for the finals of both the Champions League and Copa de la Reina, with Barça eyeing a quadruple.
“Reaching six consecutive finals is truly unbelievable,” Bonmatí shared with Disney+. “We’re normalizing something that isn’t typical at all. It reflects our ambition to maintain such high standards.
“Now we face Lyonnes, who have always been the benchmark for us, a team we aspired to match and have now succeeded.”
Regarding Giráldez, the former figure instrumental in helping Barça elevate their status, Bonmatí said, “I’m thankful to Jonatan for all he did for me as a player, but now we are rivals. Our focus is solely on winning that trophy.”