The Champions League final is set, after Barcelona and OL Lyonnes claimed dominant semifinal victories over the weekend \u2014 booking tickets to the May 23rd showdown.<\/p>\n
Eight-time champion Lyonnes overturned a 2-1 deficit<\/a> against defending champion Arsenal with Saturday’s 3-1 win to advance 4-3 on aggregate. Highlights include Wendie Renard converting a retaken penalty and Kadidiatou Diani giving Lyon the lead, with Renard becoming the oldest player to score in a Champions League semifinal at 35 years and 286 days.<\/p>\n Arsenal’s Alessia Russo equalized the tie in the 76th minute. However, Brand’s clinical 86th-minute finish sent Lyon to its 12th UWCL final<\/a>.<\/p>\n The semifinal marked Lyon’s 15th UWCL semifinal appearance.<\/p>\n On Sunday, Barcelona crushed Bayern Munich 4-2 after a 1-1 first-leg draw. The Spanish champion subsequently advanced 5-3 on aggregate, reaching an unprecedented sixth consecutive Champions League final<\/a>. Veteran midfielder Alexia Putellas scored twice while Salma Paralluelo and Ewa Pajor added goals in front of 60,021 fans at Camp Nou.<\/p>\n Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmat\u00ed<\/a> returned from a broken leg sustained in November, entering as a second-half substitute.<\/p>\n “It’s hard to explain the feeling I have today,” Bonmat\u00ed said postgame<\/a>. “There couldn’t have been a better day to come back. It’s been a very tough but rewarding five months. It’s been a different challenge in my career, which I think has helped me both as a footballer and professionally.”<\/p>\n