VfL Wolfsburg let the top players from FC Barcelona rip Europe’s football crown out of their hands. The cup winners around Alexandra Popp lost to the favorites 2: 3 (2: 0) in a memorable Champions League final after leading 2: 0 and missed the third triumph after 2013 and 2014 in the most bitter way.
In front of 33,147 fans in the packed PSV Eindhoven stadium, the Polish striker Ewa Pajor (3rd) ensured the perfect start for VfL, DFB captain Popp (37th) scored with a typical header. With a double strike within 108 seconds, Patri Guijarro (48’/50′) brought Spain’s champions closer before ex-wolf Fridolina Rolfö (70′) gave Barca their second triumph.
Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot had chosen an offensive line-up with Popp in her favorite position as center forward, with Pajor coming down the left flank. Barca coach Jonatan Giraldez initially left his superstar Alexia Putellas on the bench. The Spanish world footballer made her comeback at the end of April after a cruciate ligament rupture, on Saturday she only entered the field in the 90th minute.
Loudly driven by their 8,000 or so “culers” who had traveled with them, Guijarro scored the first goal for Barca after just 44 seconds. But thanks to high pressing, VfL got the first punch: Pajor stole the ball from the completely inattentive European champion Lucy Bronze and scored her remarkable ninth goal of the Champions League season from the edge of the penalty area.
After the break, Wolfsburg completely loses access
That’s exactly what Popp had in mind when she announced football the “German way” the day before as the method of choice against Barcelona’s tiki-taka style. The Wolves defended passionately, Spain’s serial champions let the ball run, but in the last third they lacked the necessary precision in the first round.
Completely different Wolfsburg on the other side: After an exemplary Pajor cross, Popp demonstrated her trademark when she gave Barca goalkeeper Sandra Panos no chance with a header from close range. Spurred on by the lost finals in 2016, 2018 and 2020, she broke the record of goals in four different finals set by Ada Hegerberg (Olympique Lyon).
Shortly before the half-time whistle, national goalkeeper Merle Frohms prevented Salma Paralluelo (45+2) from scoring. But after the change of sides, the Catalans showed their feared true face, Wolfsburg completely lost control. First Guijarro executed a picture-perfect attack with his foot, only to then equalize with his shoulder.
VfL couldn’t get the uncertainty under control – and so the third goal was unfortunate. Full-back Lynn Wilms shot Kathrin Hendrich in the penalty area while attempting to clear, the lurking Swede Rolfö shot the ball into the far post.