Barça players, fans celebrate historic UWCL win

Barcelona president Joan Laporta lauded the club’s “history-making” women’s team for “moving into another dimension” as supporters lined the streets of the city on Sunday to celebrate with the Champions League winners.

Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas scored as Barça beat Lyon 2-0 in Bilbao on Saturday to win the trophy for the second successive season and the third time in four years.

The win over the French champions, the eight-time winners of the Champions League, also sealed a quadruple for the first-ever time in the club’s history, with Liga F, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Supercopa already wrapped up.

“This team is making history,” Laporta said in a speech at the Catalan parliament, where Barça were welcomed by the president of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès.

“It’s admirable how they are, how they live for football, how they celebrate… and how they make us all part of their success.

“These players deserve everything they have. They are in another dimension and they achieve everything that is proposed to them. Be ready because they are the ones moving this new world.”

Thousands of supporters lined the streets in the centre of Barcelona, with the team bus pulling up close to Plaça Sant Jaume, where more than 2,000 fans were squeezed in waiting for the players.

Led by captain Putellas, who scored the second goal against Lyon, the Barça squad then carried the four trophies they have won down Calle Ferran towards the parliament buildings on Plaça Sant Jaume.

“Every time I am here I have lost my voice, which is a good thing,” said Putellas, whose voice was cracking after a night of celebrating.

“We have brought the third Champions League home and the second in a row. We have made history, winning four trophies in one season.”

In addition to those out on the streets on Sunday, around 40,000 were in Bilbao on Saturday where a crowd of 50,827 set a new attendance record for a Women’s Champions League final.

“Thanks to all the supporters that came to Bilbao and to all the people that followed the game from home, Plaça Catalunya or wherever,” added Putellas, who signed a new two-year deal this week.

“We will keep making history. We will push for more and more.”

Barça’s players then made their way to a balcony that overlooks Plaça Sant Jaume, where they led and joined in with chants and songs with the fans who had gathered to see them.

“I like this one: ‘Jump, jump, jump, whoever doesn’t jump is a Madrid supporter,” chanted forward Clàudia Pina, who led the celebrations.

“I think it’s difficult to better what Pina has done,” laughed Mariona Caldentey when the microphone was handed to her minutes later.

Barça still have two league games to go, with their campaign officially ending on June 16 against Valencia, which will be the last under current coach Jonatan Giráldez.

Giráldez, who has won 10 of the 12 trophies available during his three years in charge, will join NWSL side Washington Spirit next month.