Lyon women have regained their European crown, but the joy is bittersweet for Australia's Ellie Carpenter after she suffered a potentially serious knee injury.

The full-back was substituted after 13 minutes of Lyon's 3-1 win in the UEFA Women's Champions League final after her knee gave way in open play.

A few minutes earlier she had hurt it while challenging Fridolina Rolfo.

She received her medal on crutches with her left leg in a brace, which ran all the way up to her thigh.

Lyon were already a goal up when Carpenter departed, Amandine Henry having scored a stunning goal after six minutes.

Loading

Ada Hegerberg added a second and Catarina Macario a third to put Lyon 3-0 up inside 35 minutes.

Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas pulled one back before the break but Lyon used their experience to manage a goal-less second half.

Lyon have now won eight of the last 12 Women's Champions Leagues, but this was as warmly received as any having been eclipsed in many people's eyes by Barcelona.

However Lyon, who beat Barca 4-1 in the 2019 final, did not play them in last season's competition having been knocked out by domestic rivals Paris St Germain.

But they did not have Hegerberg in the team then as she was recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The Norwegian said pertinently before the final: "There was women's football before Barcelona, and it was played here [Lyon] for years. We have to win again to regain our place in world football."

Hegerberg's recovery — she was outstanding in the final — offers hope for Carpenter if, as feared, she has also suffered an ACL injury, a common injury in women's football.

The Matildas will be hoping that Carpenter's recovery will be straightforward with the FIFA Women's World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand beginning in July next year.

Lyon had taken the lead when Henry won possession before scoring from 30 yards.

After Jenni Hermoso had missed two good chances Hegerberg headed in Selma Bacha's cross to double the lead.

Catarina Macario tapped in a Hegerberg cross with Barca in disarray before Putellas scored in the 41st minute to give them hope.

Though Patri Guijarro hit the crossbar in the 58th minute from 50 yards Barcelona were unable to get the second goal which could have had Lyon worried.

Loading

AAP/ABC