Barcelona see off Lyon to retain title

Holders Barcelona went into the 2023/24 UEFA Women's Champions League having won two of the previous three titles and reached four of the past five finals, but one hurdle remained uncleared.

Lyon had inflicted both of Barcelona's final defeats, in 2019 and 2022, and had won both legs of their only previous meeting, in the 2017/18 last eight. However, in Bilbao in 2024, Barcelona were finally able to get the better of the record eight-time champions, underlining their succession as the competition's dominant club.

The season might have ended with the two dominant teams in the final, but there were surprises even before the competition reached the group stage. Paris FC knocked out two former champions in qualifying in Arsenal and Wolfsburg. Those two teams had met in the 2022/23 semis and, in 26 previous combined campaigns, neither had failed to reach the quarter-finals.

Eintracht Frankfurt edged Juventus on penalties in round 1, but in the group stage the four-time champions were edged out by Benfica. Barcelona comfortably topped Group A, though they too were tested by Benfica, who held Barça to a 4-4 draw on Matchday 6 and became Portugal's first quarter-finalists.

Lyon topped Group B, but not before losing a two-goal lead in the first time since FC Lyon became Olympique Lyonnais in 2004, Brann securing a dramatic 2-2 draw on their way to second place above Slavia Praha and St. Pölten.

Paris Saint-Germain had to knock out debutants Manchester United in round 2 and their Group C task was no easier, with Ajax, Bayern and Roma all in the same section. Ajax appeared to be the outsiders, yet they beat Paris and Bayern in Amsterdam, and on Matchday 6 all four teams were in contention.

Indeed, during the course of those final games, all four teams were provisionally through or out at various points. In the end, a late equaliser gave Paris a 2-2 draw at Bayern and first place in a group in which they had lost their first two matches. Ajax beat Roma 2-1 late on for second place.

Bayern's exit along with Frankfurt's, and Wolfsburg's earlier elimination, meant Germany had no quarter-finalists for the first time. On the flip side, Ajax, like Benfica and Brann, were through to the last eight for the first time.

Chelsea avoided any shocks at the hands of Paris FC as they topped Group D unbeaten. Häcken were a surprise second, having beaten PFC and Real Madrid in their opening games.

All four group winners came through their quarter-finals with relative comfort, Barcelona defeating Brann, Lyon seeing off Benfica, Chelsea defeating Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain knocking out Häcken. But the semi-finals were both thrillers.

Chelsea ended a long home unbeaten run for Barcelona with a 1-0 first-leg victory. However, Barcelona turned the tie at Stamford Bridge with an Aitana Bonmatí-inspired 2-0 victory, ending the hopes of a dream triumph for Emma Hayes in her last Chelsea season.

Paris led 2-0 at Lyon with ten minutes to go in the first leg only for OL to storm back to win 3-2 and then triumph 2-1 at Parc des Princes, making their 11th final since 2010 – and with Wendie Renard taking part in every one.

A final-record crowd of 50,827 packed into San Mamés in Bilbao, including an estimated 40,000 supporting Barcelona. And they were celebrating just past the hour when Bonmatí's run and deflected shot broke the deadlock.

Barcelona remained on top and, after Alexia Putellas was sent on as a late substitute, she made it 2-0 herself in added time. Bonmatí, who ended the campaign with six goals and six assists, was named Player of the Season for the second year in a row. Lyon's Melchie Dumornay – crucial to OL's semi-final comeback – was chosen as Young Player of the Season, with club-mate Kadidiatou Diani top scorer on eight goals.