Aitana Bonmati – Barcelona’s ever-present leader who always rises to the challenge

When Barcelona lost the 2022 Women’s Champions League final to Lyon, one player’s face stood out among her team-mates’ anguished expressions.

Aitana Bonmati took her silver medal, gave it a kiss and went to thank the travelling Barca fans. As she applauded those supporters, she made a promise to them: “We’ll be back.” Sure enough, the next year, Barcelona won their second Champions League title with a fine comeback against Wolfsburg.

After Barca lost the first leg of this season’s Champions League semi-final at home against Chelsea, Bonmati once again fronted up to the media. The midfielder was angry about how Emma Hayes’ visiting side had played, especially when it came to running the clock down to protect their 1-0 lead.

“To me, that’s playing dirty,” she said. Her anger was shared by Barcelona’s staff and fans.

It produced a similar result. With a player of the match performance in Saturday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, Bonmati carried Barca to their fourth consecutive Champions League final and fifth in six years. She levelled the tie with her 25th-minute goal and won the penalty from which Fridolina Rolfo sealed the win with 15 minutes of the 90 to go.