Thanks for joining me.
Here is Suzanne Wrack’s report from Oslo.
Putellas has the trophy in hand and it is aloft!
Here come Barcelona … led by Romeu, while Lyonnes perform a guard of honour.
Charlton’s promotion to the WSL can put the club “back on the map”, their jubilant manager Karen Hills has said, after her side beat Leicester City on penalties to return to the top flight for the first time since 2007.
Hills, a former Charlton player who helped them win the FA Cup in 2005, has been in charge at the club for just over five years, told reporters: Karen Hills: “It’s an emotional rollercoaster, management, at the best of times, but to do what we’ve done. I’m proud but also extremely exhausted. The heat today was incredible but the players were remarkable, it makes me really proud.
“It [promotion] was my five-year plan and what I wanted to do was really put Charlton women back on the map. I wanted to galvanise the Charlton community and fans, and bring that feel for women’s football back. When I was playing [here] that was what we had and I wanted to bring that back, that was always my dream. Thankfully these players have delivered.”
Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian FA, is on the podium. They do not get more important her in the European game.
The officials are walking up to get their trinkets.
Barcelona are not the only ones celebrating today. Charlton beat Leicester early in the WSL playoff to earn promotion and send the Foxes down.
The Leicester City manager Rick Passmoor says the club will try to “reset” this summer after being relegated from the WSL via a penalty shootout on Saturday lunchtime.
The East Midlands club had lost 11 WSL games in a row prior to their play-off decider against Charlton Athletic, who won promotion thanks to four saves from their goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse in the shootout, after 120 goalless minutes. Passmoor told reporters: “[I am] hugely disappointed, because, like anybody in football, it’s not a nine-to-five job, you work relentlessly. Everybody has put their heart and soul into the club, behind the scenes, the support staff too and the staff behind the staff. That’s why it’s hurting, for those people as well, because they care for Leicester City.”
Asked if the team can bounce straight back away next season, he replied: “Right now, the emotions will be very down. It’s [going to need] a week or two. But as a club we need to have a look, review and potentially reset. You’ve got to be frank and honest within those discussions, and see what direction you want to go into.
“It’s probably the first season, with London City coming in and being fully supported, where the [promoted team] has not done a yo-yo and bounced, so it’s so competitive now. WSL 2 is the best it’s ever been as well. In WSL 2 it’s a tough and relentless environment.
“But i must say, since walking into this football club, what a football club, so many people [at Leicester] work tirelessly.”
That is a fourth Champions League title for Barcelona.
The azulgrana are all on the pitch celebrating … and rightly so.
The ref blew two minutes early, which says it all.
Full time! Barcelona 4-0 Lyonnes
It was a rout in the end. No one saw this coming at the break.
Updated
90+5 mins: It all feels a bit harsh on Lyonnes but they did not take their chances when on top. Barca have been ruthless in the second half.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Lyonnes (Parralluelo, 90+3)
Barca break on Lyonnes, who have left barely anyone back. Parralluelo keeps her cool when through to find the bottom corner.
Updated
90+2 mins: We are into seven minutes added on. I suspect Lyonnes would like to end it now.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Lyonnes (Parralluelo, 90)
WHAT A STRIKE! Parralluelo smashes one into the top corner from 20 yards to seal the deal.
88 mins: Barca are open to completely killing the fixture off but Endler easily comes to take a cross and sends Chawinga away. She gets behind the Barca defence but can’t find a teammate.
87 mins: Gordon has been back in touch: “Things were looking good for Lyonnes at HT but their midfield has lost energy and allowed Barcelona in. The French side were also too late with their subs. Nevertheless, Lyonnes have had chances, which could have turned the game. But turning into a very disappointing evening for the French side.”
86 mins: Kika and Camara are on. Brugts and Putellas are off.
84 mins: Do Lyon have anything left to give?
The energy has gone form their play.
Pina is down and holding her hamstring but wants to carry on.
82 mins: Bonmati is very much on the pitch to slow things down. A master of keeping possession.
80 mins: Barca are taking as much sting out of the game as possible. Game management is the name of the this particular game.
Pina has a dig but Endler is equal to it and then smashes the ball upfield. Lyon look done here.
78 mins: Kári Tulinius asks: “I realize this isn’t particularly important, but is it snowing in Oslo? Which seems unlikely, considering how sunny it is.”
I assume it is some insects flying around …
Joao emails: “I must say, I’d love to see Wendy Renard get one more big title, but I can’t wait to see if Vicky Lopez comes in. It’s not just her technical ability, which is excellent, but that way of playing where she seems to have more time than anyone else can only come from an amazing brain. And still so young.
“Oops, Barcelona scores a second. Désolé Wendy.”
76 mins: Chawinga is through one-on-one and has the chance to get Lyon back in the game but Cata Coll once again comes up with the goods.
74 mins: Durmornay catches Leon with an arm, leaving the Barca defender on the deck.
72 mins: Lyonnes send on Shrader for Yohannes.
Bonmati replaces Serrajordi.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Lyonnes (Pajor, 69)
Pajor is there again! Lyonnes are opened up, Pina diverts a cross towards goal, which Parralluelo sends back to Pajor to whack home.
Updated
68 mins: Putellas commits another foul on Dumornay and the referee finally finds her cards.
Bonmati is primed on the sidelines.
66 mins: Lyonnes have a corner on the right … it is taken short but Bacha makes it into the box and arrows are shot but it is blocked by a defender.
Hegerberg abd Becho off, Chawinga and Katoto on.
64 mins: The goal has certainly boosted Barca’s confidence and they are looking far more lively.
63 mins: Pina is on for Graham Hansen.
61 mins: Lyonnes produce another decent move, concluding with Becho forcing Cata Coll to tip it just wide.
The resulting corner is swiped over by Brand.
59 mins: Lyon need to settle back down …
57 mins: Lyon go up the other end and win a corner. Brand takes it shot and then gets it back but pings the ball straight out of play. What a waste.
Cata Coll is having a sit down, so everyone can take a rest. What a shambles.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Lyonnes (Pajor, 55)
Against the run of play, even if Barca have improved. The Polish forward receives a pass inside the box, gets the ball out of her feet and thrashes into the corner across Endler who can do nothing.
Updated
54 mins: Barca have a corner on the right … but Leon sends it over everyone and straight out of play. The assistant does not give it quickly, allowing Barca a chance from close range before reality returns.
Lyon show some nice football as part of a fine move but the final pass lets it down.
52 mins: The referee falls over and I have no idea why but everyone enjoys it.
It feels like the aggression levels have increased since the break.
50 mins: Hegerberg is through one on one but overthinks her finish, eventually forcing Cata Coll into a decent save. The offside flag goes up but it looks tight.
49 mins: Graham Hansen receives the ball on the edge of the box but she smashes well over the bar.
47 mins: A bit of a quiet start …
Second half
Here we go again!
Saurav emails: “Is Wendie Renard the greatest defender of our generation - men’s or women’s? I certainly think she has a creditable shout.
“Haven’t seen Barca Femeni be under so much pressure for a while now, I think they need to bring in Bonmati and Vicky Lopez as soon as they are able to get back control of the midfield.”
Gordon emails: “Tactically, Lyonnes have dominated, by pushing up and physically challenging Barcelona, which they are not used to. Barcelona cannot get any long spells of possession, and are being forced to untypically play the ball forward early. Barcelona’s best player has been Cata Coll - they’ve also committed far more fouls than the French side. Lyonnes know they are on top - and, once they replace the hapless Hegerberg with the much more potent Katoto, the goals will come.”
Half time: Barcelona 0-0 Lyonnes
A goalless first half dominated by the French side.
45+1 mins: Graham Hansen cuts in from the right and lets fly but her shot is deflected wide.
43 mins: Lyonnes have dominated this half. Barcelona have barely had any involvement. The Catalans will be happy to see half time, especially with the score goalless.
41 mins: Bacha eventually takes the free-kick, using plenty of power and whip, forcing Cata Coll into a flying save to her left to keep it out.
38 mins: Lawrence whips in a cross which Cata Coll punches clear.
In the next action, Pajor clatters into Dumornay just outside the box. She really should be going into the book.
36 mins: Putellas plays a sneaky pass to Pajoy on the edge of the box but she slices her shot well wide from 18 yards.
Parralluelo does well down the left and sends a low cross into the box but there is no one there to meet it.
A good couple of moments for Barca …
34 mins: Lyon have enjoyed around 60% possession. Maybe Barca are luring them into a false sense of security …
32 mins: Renard plays a superb pass through the Barca midfield for Bacha to chase. She reaches it down the left and whips in a cross but Cata Coll reads and collects.
30 mins: Lyon have another corner on the right and it creates pinball in the box but Barca scramble it clear.
28 mins: It is all Lyon at the moment, Barca need to change the dynamic.
Updated
26 mins: A Lyon corner is swung in from the right but it is greeted by a Barca head. The French side recycle it but cannot get a shot away.
24 mins: Dumoray has a chance to put in a cross but takes an extra touch, losing her the angle to find a teammate and Barcelona win the ball back.
Hegerberg looks like has the perfect chance inside she can’t get the ball under control soon enough and Putellas gets a block in.
Immediately after Brand goes through but has to shoot from a tight angle and cannot do the business.
22 mins: Leon takes ball and woman with a fierce tackle on Hegerberg but the defender comes off worse after catching a forearm in the neck.
20 mins: Lyon cause themselves problems by trying to play out from the back but Barcelona cannot make the most of it, despite a strong press.
18 mins: A simple ball over the top catches Lyonnes out; Endler thinks she can reach it but is nowhere near, allowing Pajor a chance to lob the goalkeeper but her shot goes just wide.
Now each team needs to settle back down and work things out. Lyon looking pretty calm and moving the ball quicker.
NO GOAL!
After a bizarrely long VAR review, the goal is chalked off for offside.
Updated
GOAL?! Lyon have a free-kick around 40 yards out, which is clipped into the box. Renard has a free header which the goalkeeper palms straight out and Heaps is there to nudged home from a yard or two.
Updated
12 mins: A first chance of the match. Putellas arrives in the box at the perfect time to meet a Graham Hansen cross but her shot lacks power and accuracy as it slips wide.
10 mins: Lyon are still looking the more comfortable but whenever they reach the final third their attacks seemingly break down.
8 mins: A lot of flirting so far but not much has really happened.
6 mins: Barcelona pump a free kick into the box but it is diverted well wide.
4 mins: Pajor barges into the back of Bacha to give away a free-kick.
Barcelona are yet to string two passes together.
2 mins: A third of the pitch is covered in shade but the rest is looking bright.
Lyon enjoy plenty of the ball early on as they look to calm any lingering nerves.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The players are heading out into the glorious Oslo sunshine.
Gordon’s been in touch: “I think Lyonnes will win today, as they present a physicality and a speed of movement that Barcelona rarely come up against. Bayern Munich gave Barcelona some problems in these respects in the semi-final, and Lyonnes are a considerable step-up from Bayern. Barcelona look to have recognised this, in selecting Parralluelo ahead of Pina. Lyonnes showed in the second leg of their semi against Arsenal that they can produce their best football when it really matters - and, in Dumornay, they have potentially the best woman player in the world. But, they have, to my mind, handicapped themselves by starting Hegerberg - so ineffective against Wolfsburg and Arsenal - instead of Katoto.”
Here is Tom Garry’s report from The Valley.
Charlton beat Leicester on penalties to reach WSL
Sophie Whitehouse etched her name into Charlton folklore as she saved four penalties in the shootout to win her side promotion to the Women’s Super League and relegated Leicester in the process.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper’s heroics gave Charlton a 2-1 victory on penalties to settle the nerviest playoff tie you could imagine after a goalless 120 minutes. The result capped off a dismal season for Leicester, who have lost every match they have played in 2026, while for Charlton the joy was unbridled and it was a case of ‘second-time lucky’ after they had lost a decisive game on the regular season’s final day that had seen the miss out on automatic promotion.
Pre-match reading.
Starting lineups
Barcelona (4-3-3): Cata Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Brugts; Serrajordi, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Parralluelo
Subs: G Font, T Font, Schertenleibm Torrejon, Pina, Bonmati, Nazareth, Lopez, Camara, Fenger, Ranera, Julia
Lyonnes (4-3-3): Endler; Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha; Dumornay, Heaps, Yohannes; Becho, Hegerberg; Brand
Subs: Belhadj, Marchal, Schrader, Katoto, Egurrola, Fathallah, Sombath, Chawinga, Svava, Benyahia, Tarciane, Rafalski
Referee: Tess Olofsson
Updated
Preamble
It does not get much bigger than this. Neither Barcelona nor Lyonnes have made it this far through luck, they are the best two teams on the continent, boasting 11 Champions League titles between them.
Each side has won their respective domestic titles and will be looking to add a cherry in Oslo. Barcelona will look to outplay Lyon, with the slick football that has made them into the elite team they are, aided by being packed full of world class players, such as Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
Lyonnes, led by the former Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giraldez, are more physically imposing, which helped them battle past Arsenal in the semi-final. However, they certainly do not lack skill and quality across the park, with Wendie Renard providing the foundations at the back.
Let’s hope for a cracker!
Kick-off: 5pm BST
