Latest news with #Bonmati
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati named Women's Champions League player of the season
Aitana Bonmati (centre)contributed five assists and four goals to Barca's European campaign. PHOTO: EPA-EFE BARCELONA - Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named the Women's Champions League player of the season on May 25 after the Spanish champions reached their fifth consecutive final of the competition. Bonmati, recognised for the third year in a row, contributed five assists and four goals to Barca's European campaign but they were unable to lift the trophy for a third straight year, losing the final 1-0 to Arsenal on May 24. The 27-year-old Spanish international also topped the list of the season's best goals with her outstanding solo effort in the second leg of the semi-final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Bonmati evaded a challenge from Niamh Charles and steamed through the Chelsea half before lashing the ball into the top corner to give Barcelona the lead that paved the way for another 4-1 win and saw them book a spot in the final. Five Arsenal players were named in the competition's team of the season: goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, defenders Emily Fox and Leah Williamson and forwards Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo. Barcelona's Bonmati, Maria Leon, Patricia Guijarro and Claudia Pina also made the list, alongside Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore and Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Melchie Dumornay, 21, who was also recognised as best young player of the season. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Barca's Bonmati named Women's Champions League player of the season
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named the Women's Champions League player of the season on Sunday after the Spanish champions reached their fifth consecutive final of the competition. Bonmati, recognised for the third year in a row, contributed five assists and four goals to Barca's European campaign but they were unable to lift the trophy for a third straight year, losing the final 1-0 to Arsenal on Saturday. The 27-year-old Spanish international also topped the list of the season's best goals with her outstanding solo effort in the second leg of the semi-final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Bonmati evaded a challenge from Niamh Charles and steamed through the Chelsea half before lashing the ball into the top corner to give Barcelona the lead that paved the way for another 4-1 win and saw them book a spot in the final. Five Arsenal players were named in the competition's team of the season: goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, defenders Emily Fox and Leah Williamson and forwards Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo. Barca's Bonmati, Maria Leon, Patricia Guijarro and Claudia Pina also made the list, alongside Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore and Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Melchie Dumornay, 21, who was also recognised as best young player of the season. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona star in disbelief as Arsenal dethrone Champions
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati says she 'can't believe it' after Arsenal's shock Champions League win. The midfielder admits the holders weren't at their best in Lisbon. Photo byAitana Bonmati could only shake her head. 'I don't believe it,' she told TV3, moments after Barcelona's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in Lisbon. 'I just want to start the game again and do it differently. But this is football.' Advertisement It was a rare admission from a player who has come to define Barcelona's dominance. But in the Champions League final, Arsenal got it right, and Barcelona didn't. 'We were not as good as we usually are in the first half,' Bonmati said. 'We were more comfortable after the break, but I have to congratulate Arsenal for their performance. They had their game plan and they took advantage of their chances.' The only goal came from Stina Blackstenius, just seven minutes after coming on. The Swede finished calmly from a Beth Mead pass, and Arsenal held on as Barcelona pushed for an equaliser that never came. Photo by'Personally, this hurts me a lot,' Bonmati admitted. 'It's hard looking at the stands and seeing all the supporters. It reminds me of Turin.' Advertisement That was the last time Barcelona lost a Champions League final. They had arrived in Lisbon as favourites, with two titles in the last three seasons. But Arsenal were organised, disciplined and ruthless when it mattered and had wins over Real Madrid and Lyon behind them. 'It's a dead ball and we didn't defend it well,' Bonmati said. 'In the other area, those of us in attack have to take our chances. We gave everything, but we were not at our best, and football punishes that.' Bonmati, like the rest of her teammates, struggled to hide her disappointment. 'A large part of the sadness and frustration I have is for the fans that have come. I am really sorry. We will be back.' On the night, though, it was Arsenal who got it right. And Bonmati who was left looking for answers.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Barca the team others look up to now: Bonmati
LISBON: Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati said the Catalans have become the side which other teams look up to now, ahead of the women's Champions League final clash against Arsenal on Saturday. French giants Lyon are the record eight-time winners of the competition but were beaten in last year's final by Barca and last won in 2022. By contrast Bonmati's Barcelona have won three of the last four editions of the competition and reached six finals in seven years, becoming Europe's dominant force. "I don't want to compare us with Lyon, they had their path and now we have our path," Bonmati told a news conference Friday. "We used to speak very well of them, for us they were a mirror in the past, and now we can tell we are the mirror, for a lot of teams. "We are proud of our path and we will try to be (even) more 'historical' tomorrow." Barcelona face Arsenal at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, with the Gunners reaching the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2007, back when it was the UEFA Women's Cup. It is the Catalans' 100th match in European competition, 12 years after they played their first, also against Arsenal. Barcelona were thrashed 7-0 over two legs in the round of 32 in the 2012-13 Champions League by the English side, with Alexia Putellas the only survivor of that squad. "There's no need to remind me of the scoreline," laughed Putellas, who like Bonmati is a two-time Ballon d'Or winner. "It was the first European game in the history of Barca Femeni, it was impossible to imagine then all that would come after... it's incredible the change we've had, and the evolution. "We became professional relatively recently and we have got to these six finals. I consider myself privileged to have lived this journey. "It's a nice anecdote that the first game was against Arsenal and tomorrow's is too, with this trophy on the line." Barcelona were criticised earlier in the season after suffering two league defeats against Levante and Real Madrid, with the latter the first time they have ever suffered a loss against their Clasico rival. However Putellas said the team were arriving in excellent shape to face Renee Slegers' side, after dispatching English treble-winners Chelsea in the semi-finals 8-2 on aggregate. "We arrive (at the final) with very good feelings, a lot of energy, we've worked well throughout the year," said Putellas. "We're feeling good in terms of our game play and also on a physical level." However she said that just because Barca have a rich recent history, they would not be taking a victory for granted. "We've won three Champions Leagues but that doesn't mean we start 1-0 up tomorrow," added the playmaker. "We'll leave our skins out there to win the trophy." Even though Arsenal are the underdogs on Saturday, they dispatched Lyon with an impressive 4-1 semi-final second leg triumph in France. "A final is a bit unpredictable, there are things you can't control," added Putellas. "They are in the final for a reason, scoring four against Lyon and knocking out Real Madrid too, but we feel if we're at our best, things will go well for us." Barcelona won the quadruple last season under Jonatan Giraldez, who left at the end of the season to be replaced by Pere Romeu. Although the team took some time to find their best level, they are in the running for repeating that feat, having already claimed Liga F and the Spanish Super Cup. "It's a special game because it's a final," said the coach. "This team has experience from previous finals, we've been working a lot this week and I like that, I've been speaking to all the staff... and it gives me the (feeling of) security that we'll do well. "We have to go out there to play a good game and try to dominate." — AFP
France 24
23-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Barca the team others look up to now: Bonmati
French giants Lyon are the record eight-time winners of the competition but were beaten in last year's final by Barca and last won in 2022. By contrast Bonmati's Barcelona have won three of the last four editions of the competition and reached six finals in seven years, becoming Europe's dominant force. "I don't want to compare us with Lyon, they had their path and now we have our path," said Bonmati. "We used to speak very well of them, for us they were a mirror in the past, and now we can tell we are the mirror, for a lot of teams. "We are proud of our path and we will try to be (even) more 'historical' tomorrow." Barcelona face Arsenal at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, with the Gunners reaching the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2007, back when it was the UEFA Women's Cup. It is the Catalans' 100th match in European competition, 12 years after they played their first, also against Arsenal. Barcelona were thrashed 7-0 over two legs in the round of 32 in the 2012-13 Champions League by the English side, with Alexia Putellas the only survivor of that squad. "There's no need to remind me of the scoreline," laughed Putellas, who like Bonmati is a two-time Ballon d'Or winner. "It was the first European game in the history of Barca Femeni, it was impossible to imagine then all that would come after... it's incredible the change we've had, and the evolution. "We became professional relatively recently and we have got to these six finals. I consider myself privileged to have lived this journey. "It's a nice anecdote that the first game was against Arsenal and tomorrow's is too, with this trophy on the line." Barcelona were criticised earlier in the season after suffering two league defeats against Levante and Real Madrid, with the latter the first time they have ever suffered a loss against their Clasico rival. However Putellas said the team were arriving in excellent shape to face Renee Slegers' side, after dispatching English treble-winners Chelsea in the semi-finals 8-2 on aggregate. "We arrive (at the final) with very good feelings, a lot of energy, we've worked well throughout the year," said Putellas. "We're feeling good in terms of our game play and also on a physical level." However she said that just because Barca have a rich recent history, they would not be taking a victory for granted. "We've won three Champions Leagues but that doesn't mean we start 1-0 up tomorrow," added the playmaker. "We'll leave our skins out there to win the trophy." Barcelona won the quadruple last season under Jonatan Giraldez, who left at the end of the season to be replaced by Pere Romeu. Although the team took some time to find their best level, they are in the running for repeating that feat, having already claimed Liga F and the Spanish Super Cup. "It's a special game because it's a final," said the coach. "This team has experience from previous finals, we've been working a lot this week and I like that, I've been speaking to all the staff... and it gives me the (feeling of) security that we'll do well. "We have to go out there to play a good game and try to dominate."
