🏆 Barça thrash Lyonnes as Ewa Pajor completes UWCL redemption arc | OneFootball

Barcelona Femeni claimed the UEFA Women's Champions League title for a fourth time after beating Lyonnes 4-0 on Saturday.

A clash of two serial winners, it was always going to be a tough contest between Spain and France's finest. But the talents of one particular star proved decisive in a match that held some personal significance.

Scorers: Pajor 55', 70', Paralluelo 90', 90+3'

The first half was a measured affair, showing the true star quality on the pitch at either end of the Ullevaal Stadion in Norway.

Lyonnes thought they opened the scoring when American Lindsey Heaps bundled the ball home at the near post, but the goal was ruled offside. Meanwhile, Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll denied both Wendie Renard and Selma Bacha to keep things deadlocked.

Barcelona, who were appearing in their sixth-straight final, would eventually take the lead in the second half when striker Ewa Pajor finally found her finishing touch. 

The Poland international beat her marker for pace and struck a low roller into the far left corner for her 10th UWCL goal of the season and 30th in all competitions this year.

Such scenes led to an emphatic celebration from Pajor, who personally had a curse to break in the competition. The former Wolfsburg star had previously appeared in five UWCL finals, but lost every single one.

Perhaps one of the biggest names on the stage, Ada Hegerberg, was fairly quiet for over an hour and left the pitch to a standing ovation in her home country as Lyonnes brought on Marie-Antoinette Katoto in hopes of igniting a comeback. 

Unfortunately for the all-time leading winners (eight titles), they were set back almost immediately.

Pajor, still wearing that chip on her shoulder, doubled the lead as Lyonnes' flat-footed defence was left stunned. A cross went rolling across the box before the ball was eventually placed in front of her, and she scored from point-blank range.

Pajor's 11th goal in the competition equalled the best UWCL tally by a Barcelona player (set by Alexia Putellas in 2021/22).

Returning to the final four years on from their last competition victory, Lyonnes slowly saw another title slipping away. Such a feeling was later emphasized when Salma Paralluelo struck home a third goal for Barcelona from distance.

The celebrations then began early on the pitch as Pajor was involved for a third time during Saturday's victory. Hitting on the break, the striker ran into acres of space and set up Paralluelo, who comfortably sent a fourth beyond goalkeeper Christiane Endler.

📸 ODD ANDERSEN - AFP or licensors