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VfL Wolfsburg's Jill Roord struggled with Keira Walsh and Co.
Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images
The players of VfL Wolfsburg lost the final of the Champions League against FC Barcelona 2:3 (2:0). Ewa Pajor (3rd minute) and Alexandra Popp (37th) had initially put Wolfsburg in the lead. After half-time, the favoured Barça players showed their attacking power and turned the game around in the sold-out Eindhoven stadium through Patricia Guijarro Gutiérrez (48th/50th) and Fridolina Rolfö (70th).
Actually, the balance of power before this final was clearly distributed: Barcelona traveled to Eindhoven as favorites, Jonatan Giráldez's team did not lose a game in the domestic league for two years, thrilled with attacking football and lost only once in the Champions League this season.
Nevertheless, it was Wolfsburg who took an early lead in the final: they surprised Barça with attacking pressing, Lucy Bronze was unable to save the ball against VfL striker Pajor - and she pulled off the edge of the penalty area (3rd). It was Pajor's ninth goal in the Champions League, scoring the most goals among any player in the competition.
Barça then struggled to equalise quickly and became dangerous, especially after corners, Irene Parades headed past the goal from close range (13th). The Spaniards radiated constant danger, especially through director Aitana Bonmatí, the VfL defence around Lena Oberdorf had to throw themselves into finishes again and again.
Then Wolfsburg were lucky that Caroline Graham Hansen was too imprecise (34') – and struck again: Pajor had plenty of space for a pinpoint cross to striker Popp, who headed in (37'). VfL coach Tommy Stroot had called Pajor up on the left somewhat surprisingly, and that paid off until then.
Barça put on the turbo
After half-time, Barça turned up the heat and made their own changes. Patricia Guijarro Gutiérrez punished the carelessness of the Wolfsburg defence with a double strike (48th/50th) within two minutes.
After the quick equaliser, Wolfsburg struggled and hardly got into a structured build-up game, Barça also took some pace. Twice Pajor came to the end (67th/69th) without causing serious problems for goalkeeper Sandra Paños.
In the most unfortunate way imaginable from Wolfsburg's point of view, the 2:3 finally fell: Lynn Wilms shot at teammate Kathrin Hendrich in her own penalty area. María Francesca Caldentey Oliver then stumbled the ball first, in the stabbing the ex-Wolfsburg Rolfö kept the greatest calm (70th). Wolfsburg didn't get any clear opportunities after that, Pauline Bremer (90+9) headed into the arms of Paños. At Barcelona, superstar Alexia Putellas still collected playing minutes.
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