The Champions League final is set, after Barcelona and OL Lyonnes claimed dominant semifinal victories over the weekend — booking tickets to the May 23rd showdown.
Eight-time champion Lyonnes overturned a 2-1 deficit against defending champion Arsenal with Saturday's 3-1 win to advance 4-3 on aggregate. Highlights include Wendie Renard converting a retaken penalty and Kadidiatou Diani giving Lyon the lead, with Renard becoming the oldest player to score in a Champions League semifinal at 35 years and 286 days.
Arsenal's Alessia Russo equalized the tie in the 76th minute. However, Brand's clinical 86th-minute finish sent Lyon to its 12th UWCL final.
The semifinal marked Lyon's 15th UWCL semifinal appearance.
On Sunday, Barcelona crushed Bayern Munich 4-2 after a 1-1 first-leg draw. The Spanish champion subsequently advanced 5-3 on aggregate, reaching an unprecedented sixth consecutive Champions League final. Veteran midfielder Alexia Putellas scored twice while Salma Paralluelo and Ewa Pajor added goals in front of 60,021 fans at Camp Nou.
Reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí returned from a broken leg sustained in November, entering as a second-half substitute.
"It's hard to explain the feeling I have today," Bonmatí said postgame. "There couldn't have been a better day to come back. It's been a very tough but rewarding five months. It's been a different challenge in my career, which I think has helped me both as a footballer and professionally."
The UWCL final marks the fourth meeting between Barcelona and Lyon in a Champions League final. Lyon holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge, winning in 2019 (4-1) and 2022 (3-1) before Barcelona gained revenge with 2024's 2-0 victory.
