LUCY BRONZE hailed Alexia Putellas’s classy cameo after Barcelona ended their run of Champions League final losses to Lyon in style.
The midfielder’s late strike clinched a 2-0 win with incoming Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor enduring defeat in her last Lyon game.
And Bronze, who shone in defence for Barca, became the first English player to triumph in five Women’s Champions League finals following three wins during her three-year spell at Lyon.
After the game the Lioness full-back told DAZN: “We needed to be a club that really made history.
“It’s hard to win it once, but to do it back-to-back, Lyon showed how difficult it is. This team has finally done that.
“We’ll go down in history as one of the best teams in Europe.”
The 190th Barca goal netted by two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas sealed a fairytale finish to a season disrupted by knee issues for the midfielder.
Her team claimed back-to-back trophy wins in the contest for the first time in their history.
Their third triumph in four years in the competition’s decider led to eight-time winners Lyon falling to their first defeat in seven finals.
Both sides had three shots on target between them in a hardfought first-half.
Lyon skipper Wendi Renard volleyed against the post in the 15th minute and Mariona Caldentey saw her effort cleared off the line 14 minutes later.
Aitana Bonmati broke the deadlock with an angled strike deflected home off Lyon defender Vanessa Gilles.
And Putellas, who signed a new two-year deal with Barca this week, fired in a thunderous finish over goalkeeper Christiane Endler to put the result beyond doubt.
Bronze added: “She’s the queen of Barcelona for a reason.
“She’s had to work really hard to get back fit. She showed why she’s a two-time Ballon d’Or winner.”
