Barcelona 3-2 Wolfsburg: The Spanish giants win the Women’s Champions League after a dramatic comeback with Fridolina Rolfo grabbing the winner after Patri Guijarro’s quick brace in Eindhoven
Barcelona pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback to come from 2-0 down at Wolfsburg 3-2 in the Women’s Champions League final.
The Catalans trailed 2- at the break after goals from Ewa Pajor and Alexandra Popp, but a brace from Patricia Guijarro and a strike from Fridonlina Rolfo earned them a third European trophy.
Barca were beaten by Lyon in last year’s final but were heavy favorites against a Wolfsburg side that lost the German league title to Bayern Munich.
But for 45 minutes the shock lasted and a win for Wolfsburg would have been bad news for Chelsea, who would have dropped out in the second round of qualifying for next year’s competition due to England’s coefficient ranking.
But a Barca triumph guaranteed their place in the group stage and the Catalans’ dominance eventually paid off.
Barcelona won the Champions League final on Saturday night (Barca celebrate above)
The German giants will be disappointed given they went 2-0 in the first half on Saturday
Ewa Pajor opened the scoring for Wolfsburg after just three minutes – shocking Barcelona
Lionesses stars Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh both started for Barca, with the former becoming the first English woman to win the Champions League with two different clubs after lifting the trophy three times with Lyon.
It was also Bronze’s first game since undergoing knee surgery last month, as England boss Sarina Wiegman watched in the stands.
“We made it difficult for ourselves in the first half, but we know we have the quality to come back in any game,” Bronze said.
“I don’t think we’ve ever worried about having to score three goals, which is a crazy feeling – that’s the talent of this team.”
Bronze, however, got off to a nightmarish start as he gave the ball away for the opening goal just three minutes later.
Alexandra Popp extended her lead by heading in the ball in the 37th minute of the match
Patri Guijarro gave Barcelona the perfect start to the second half by scoring in the 48th minute
Guijarro, 25, found the back of the net two minutes later to level the scoreboard
Fridolina Rolfo scored Barcelona’s last goal in the 70th minute to win the Champions League
The defender was taken into possession by Pajor and the Wolfsburg striker took a few touches before unleashing a powerful strike which Barca keeper Sandra Panos could only place into the top corner of the net.
Barca had nearly 70 per cent possession in the first half but out of nothing they found themselves trailing 2-0 before half-time. Pajor turned provider as her cross picked an unmarked Popp, who stabbed home at the back post.
The Catalans needed a quick start to the second half and they got it as Guijarro netted twice in the opening five minutes. The first saw midfielder Caroline Graham Hansen’s cross in the roof of the net before she headed in for Aitana Bonmati’s delivery two minutes later.
The turnaround was complete with 20 minutes to go as Wolfsburg failed to clear their lines, allowing Rolfo to finish in the roof of the net from close range.
It is therefore the name of Barcelona that was engraved on the Champions League trophy
Meanwhile, the Wolfsburg players were heartbroken after Saturday’s final whistle
