Lyon win seventh Champions League title over Wolfsburg

Lyon overcame Wolfsburg 3-1 in San Sebastian to win the Women's Champions League...again

Lyon win seventh Champions League title over Wolfsburg
Photo by Gabriel Bouys/Pool via Getty Images
alexibaceta
By Alexandra Ibaceta

As expected, Lyon claimed their fifth successive Champions League title last night despite an injury to the tournament's all time leading goal scorer, Ada Hegerberg, and despite clubs getting closer to knocking them off their throne.

Lyon is still in a league of their own and the product of the respect and financial backing of their President, Jean-Michel Aulas, has shown on the pitch. Any coach who takes over is able to assemble an unbeatable team.

This year it looked as if Wolfsburg was going to be the ones to rewrite the Champions League ending after a high flying season which ended in a domestic double, an undefeated Frauen Bundesliga title along with the DFB-Pokal.

Pernille Harder was everyone's favourite to lift the Champions League trophy, the only silverware she is missing during her three year Wolfsburg career.

On route to each of Lyon's last five titles they've beaten Wolfsburg along the way, now three times in a final. 

The French champion's performance leading up to the final was unconvincing and reassured clubs that they can be beat, but even playing at their worst they always somehow find a way to win and that is what they have over everyone else. 

The players, like the club, know how to win. Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer have won all seven titles for Lyon. Le Sommer is the third striker of choice behind Hegerberg and Nikita Parris, but she was the one to open the scoring in her ninth Champions League final.

The French forward scored her fifth goal of the tournament and 47th Champions League goal, just six behind leading goal scorer, Hegerberg. 

Player of the match, Delphine Cascarino, has her fifth Champions League title at just 23 years old. The young French forward still has an entire career to look forward to, and she is already untouchable on the wing, running havoc to any defender stuck on her side.

  • Story of the match

Kumagai got the first chance of the match just two minutes in after Cascarino beat two Wolfsburg defenders on the right and a loose ball fell to the Korean midfielder outside of the box, but her shot went straight to Friederike Abt.

Four minutes later, Renard headed wide off a Dzsenifer Marozsan set piece. Right from the start Lyon made it clear that the title is still for their taking.

Harder had Wolfsburg's first scoring opportunity after a long thrown in from Anna Blässe and poor clearance from Canadian defender, Kadeisha Buchanan, landed in her path for a half volley, but she blasted it over the net.

Cascarino proved to be one of the most promising wingers in the game after running around the Wolfsburg midfield and defence, always finding herself in front of net or by the touch line in good position to cross a ball into the box. 

Lyon were in comfortable possession of the ball and had a quick transition into attack leaving Wolfsburg unstructured and ball chasing, but the She-wolves had their dangerous attacks after bypassing the French midfield.

Fridolina Rolfö found herself in front of net after a poor clearance from Kumagai, but mistimed the ball and missed a short ranged volley which could have put her side up in the 22nd minute.

It was a cut back from Cascarino when Le Sommer had a free shot on goal and Abt managed to stick her leg out to block, but the French forward was first to react in between two Wolfsburg defenders and finished the rebound to open the scoring 25 minutes into the final.

Lyon continued to dominate with the rare German attack and three minutes until half time, Saki Kumagai scored a floating shot that dipped into the corner, nothing Abt could have done to save it. 

Again, a play starting from Cascarino beating defenders on the right corner flag finished with a messy clearance and saw the ball fall in front of Kumagai. With a few quick feet steps, she placed her shot perfectly and well out of reach for any keeper.

Second Half

Le Sommer managed to get a shot on goal just two minutes into the new half, Sakina Karachaoui cut back the ball from the left wing and the forward managed a first touch curling shot and forced Abt to knock the ball for a corner.

Ten minutes later a spark of hope for Wolfsburg appeared after Alexandra Popp headed a Ewa Pajor cross into the back of Lyon's net.

Popp's goal made Wolfsburg realise that the trophy was still within their reach, and the German side took control of the match looking for their equaliser.

Although dominant, they never managed to finish their attack with the ball in the back of the net. The Lyon defence proved to be better and more organised than the Wolfsburg attack. 

In the 87th minute, former Wolfsburg player, Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir, managed a back heel deflection into the net from a strong Le Sommer shot that was going wide to seal Lyon's victory.

After playing three Champions League games with Wolfsburg this campaign, Gunnarsdottir was the one to make sure her new team won their fifth consecutive title.