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05/03 12:30 CDT Bonmat returns and Barcelona beats Bayern to reach 6th
straight Women's Champions League final
Bonmat returns and Barcelona beats Bayern to reach 6th straight Women's
Champions League final
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Aitana Bonmat returned from a five-month injury
layoff as Barcelona reached the Women's Champions League final for the sixth
straight year with a 4-2 win over Bayern Munich on Sunday.
Alexia Putellas scored twice and Salma Paralluelo and Ewa Pajor got one each
for Barcelona to advance 5-3 on aggregate after the sides drew the first leg of
their semifinal 1-1 in Munich last weekend.
The seven-time Spanish champion will play OL Lyonnes in the final in Oslo on
May 23 after the French team defeated title holder Arsenal in their semifinal
on Saturday.
The home fans' biggest cheer on Sunday came when Bonmat made her entrance as a
substitute in the 68th minute to return after breaking her leg. The three-time
Ballon d'Or winner broke her left fibula while training on international duty.
"I'm so happy to be back on this incredible day," Bonmat said.
Bayern threatened a late comeback. Linda Dallmann had equalized early and
Pernille Harder pulled one back to restore some Bayern hope in the 71st.
Cato Coll produced a fingertip save to deny a fierce strike from Klara Bhl as
the German powerhouse pushed for more. Dallmann also hit the crossbar.
Harder had another goal ruled out late through VAR for an apparent foul in the
buildup.
Bayern, which was bidding to reach the final for the first time, had started
with almost the same team from the first leg. Stine Ballisager was drafted in
at left back for the suspended Franziska Kett, who had been sent off for
pulling Paralluelo's hair.
Barcelona dominated from the start and Ballisager gave Caroline Graham Hansen
plenty of space to send in a cross that Paralluelo finished off at the far post
in the 13th minute.
The visitors struck back on a break four minutes later when Harder crossed for
the unmarked Dallmann to roll a shot inside the left post.
But Barcelona continued as before and Putellas restored the lead with a low
strike in the 22nd.
There were no more goals before the break, however, despite wave after wave of
Barcelona attacks --- 33 in all in the first half, according to UEFA, compared
to seven from Bayern.
Pajor finally headed Bara's third with a header to Paralluelo's cross in the
55th, and Putellas got her second three minutes later when it seemed she had
put the result beyond doubt. But Bayern wasn't quite finished yet.
Barcelona hopes to make amends after losing the final to Arsenal last year.
"Football has these opportunities. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win. But
you have another opportunity, another challenge, and my team worked this year
to make it to another final," said Bonmat, who rued how the team played in the
2025 final. "Not in a way that we wanted and this time we have another
opportunity."
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
