Barcelona thrash Lyon to win Women's Champions League for fourth time
Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo scored twice each in the second half as Barcelona thrashed a stunned Lyon 4-0 in the Women's Champions League final on Saturday to win the European title for the fourth time. It took until the 55th minute for the deadlock to be broken by Pajor, but Barcelona ran away with the game after that at the Ullevaal Stadion in the Norwegian capital. Polish striker Pajor put the pain of five previous final defeats behind her as she also scored her team's second goal on 69 minutes, leaving Lyon with too much to do. Pajor was on the losing side in four Champions League finals with previous club Wolfsburg before joining Barcelona in 2024 and playing in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal in Lisbon last season. Spain World Cup winner Paralluelo then added two late goals as Lyon fell apart, exposing a gulf between the two outstanding club sides in women's football over the last decade. The victory, and manner of it, confirmed that Barcelona have overtaken Lyon as the dominant force in recent years, as they won their fourth title in the last six seasons -- only Lyon, with eight, have won more overall. Barcelona's European triumph follows a clean sweep of the Spanish domestic honours, and the Catalans brought reigning Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati on as a second-half substitute here following her recent return from a broken leg. "Finishing the season like this, it's amazing," Bonmati said. "I'm so happy because it has been a tough one for me, different for me. I have learned a lot also, but ending the season and having the opportunity to play a little bit and helping the team, for me, I'm so happy." This was a sixth straight Champions League final appearance for Barcelona, and their seventh in the last eight seasons. They had already beaten Lyon 2-0 in the 2024 final, when Bonmati and Alexia Putellas scored their goals -- the latter wore the captain's armband here in what could turn out to be her farewell appearance with her contract up. This was the fourth meeting of the clubs in the final, with Lyon coming out on top in 2019 during their run of five consecutive titles, and also winning in 2022 -- but that is now the only time they have lifted the trophy in the last six editions. "We really wanted to have the first goal of the game. We didn't get that, and in the second half, they are so dangerous in the transitions, so when they get the first goal it makes it difficult, because the dynamic changes," said Ingrid Enge, Lyon's Norwegian ex-Barcelona defender. Ada Hegerberg scored a hat-trick in the 2019 final and was also on target three years later, but the competition's all-time leading scorer looked a shadow of her former self on this occasion, which was a homecoming for the Norwegian former Ballon d'Or winner. Lyon must now try to lift themselves for a French title decider against Paris FC next weekend, after failing to go the extra step in Europe following their victory over reigning champions Arsenal in the semi-finals. The French side thought they had taken an early lead in the evening sunshine in front of a crowd of 24,258, but Lindsey Heaps' effort was disallowed for offside following a VAR check. Barcelona perhaps should have scored soon after as a mix-up between Wendie Renard and Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler allowed Pajor to try a lob from outside the area, but she hit the side-netting. Cata Coll saved well from Selma Bacha's free-kick as the first half ended goalless, but Barcelona got the opener 10 minutes after half-time. Patri Guijarro was the creator with a driving run and pass to Pajor, who controlled, took another touch to steady herself, and fired in. Barcelona increased their lead just past the midway point in the second half when Paralluelo cut the ball back from the byline for Pajor to score. Tabitha Chawinga's inability to beat Coll when clean through summed up Lyon's evening, and Paralluelo added a late brace to seal an emphatic victory. Her magnificent rising strike in the 90th minute was the pick of the goals, before she ran through to score another in stoppage time.
Measles treatment in dire condition at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital
A severe crisis in measles treatment facilities has emerged at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where overcrowding, faulty equipment and inadequate services are causing immense suffering for patients and their families. During a visit to the hospital’s measles isolation ward on May 19, this correspondent found hundreds of children receiving treatment in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. A single nebulizer machine was being used by a large number of patients, forcing guardians to wait for hours to provide oxygen support to sick children. Eight-month-old Mahadi, son of Alam and Mitu from Kalmakanda in Netrokona, was admitted on May 6 with suspected measles. In addition to measles, the child was suffering from fever, cold, cough, pneumonia and breathing complications. His mother, Mitu, alleged that the only nebulizer machine in the ward had been faulty for over a week. “There is only one nebulizer machine in the ward. It has been broken for a week and has to be held together by hand while operating. Hundreds of children are receiving treatment like this every day, yet the authorities are not replacing it,” she told Bangla Tribune. Hospital sources said the 40-bed measles isolation ward was treating 108 children on May 19, nearly three times its capacity. As a result, many patients had to stay on the floor. Atiqul Islam, father of six-month-old Roja Monir, said most of the admitted children were suffering from breathing problems and required nebulizer support. “Children have to stand in long queues for nebulizer support, but the authorities are not taking any effective steps,” he said. Another patient’s relative, Humayun Kabir, complained about overcrowding and poor sanitation in the ward. “Three to four children are being kept on a single bed. There is hardly any space left. The ward remains dirty and the washrooms are not cleaned properly,” he alleged. Poppy Akhter, mother of another patient, said most medicines and injections had to be purchased from outside the hospital despite the ongoing crisis. “The doctors and nurses are trying their best, but the overall treatment system is inadequate for the children,” she said. Attempts to contact the ward’s focal person, Dr Golam Mawla, for comment were unsuccessful. Senior Store Officer Dr Jhantu Sarkar said government-supplied medicines were being provided to patients and claimed nebulizer machines had been allocated to several wards. “We will look into why the machines are not being used properly,” he said. Assistant Director of the hospital Dr Sheikh Ali Reza Siddiqui said children admitted to the measles isolation ward were receiving treatment according to directives from the health authorities. “If there are any shortcomings, necessary action will be taken,” he said, adding that no formal complaints had yet been submitted by patients’ relatives.
Mothers in tears as measles outbreak overwhelms Khulna hospital ward
Labanya Akhter, a resident of Amvita in Dumuria upazila of Khulna, brought her three-and-a-half-month-old son Joy to the emergency department of Khulna Medical College Hospital on the morning of May 19 after four days of fever. Doctors later diagnosed the child with measles and admitted him to the hospital’s measles ward after she purchased a Tk15 ticket from the emergency department. Labanya said the child’s condition worsened after several days of fever before measles symptoms appeared. She added that after admission, doctors examined the child and prescribed treatment, which has since begun. Like Joy, all suspected measles patients are first admitted through the emergency department before being transferred to the measles ward, depending on symptom progression. Patients with fever or pneumonia are initially placed in the medicine or paediatrics wards and later shifted to the measles ward if symptoms develop. The measles ward is located on the fourth floor of the hospital. As soon as this correspondent exited the lift, rows of patients and guardians were seen lying and sitting on the floor and balcony areas. Some were resting, others were walking around or using mobile phones while waiting for treatment. A narrow passage between patients led to the measles ward, where a crowd had gathered at the entrance due to the presence of doctors on duty. Inside, 38 patients were found receiving treatment amid an overcrowded and chaotic environment. Children were crying throughout the ward, while some mothers were seen trying to calm them in their arms. Others were silently watching their children suffer, visibly distressed. The ward room and adjoining balcony were packed beyond capacity. With three to four guardians accompanying each child, movement inside the ward was severely restricted, disrupting medical services. Doctors also faced difficulty moving equipment, including portable X-ray machines, due to the congestion. In many cases, timely examination of patients was not possible. Patients were seen lying on beds as well as on the floor, with even the balcony space nearly impassable. Sathi, who brought her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Mariam from Terkhada, said measles was detected four days after fever began. She added that the child had received the first dose of measles vaccine at nine months but missed the follow-up dose at 15 months. Mother Reshma Akhter, who brought her nine-month-old son Safowan from Terkhada, said the child developed measles after a week of fever. “The treatment situation here is very poor,” she said. Another guardian, Eidni from Kalia in Narail, said her nine-month-old child Rajya developed fever for six days before measles symptoms appeared. She said the child improved after three days of treatment in the ward. Ward nurses said 38 patients were admitted as of 11am on the day of visit. Duty doctor Syeda Roksana Parveen said that around 90% of admitted patients were unvaccinated. “These children missed the measles vaccine at nine months and 15 months, which is why the outbreak is severe,” she said. “We are trying our best. Parents must ensure vaccination after recovery,” she added. Khulna Divisional Health Director Dr Md Mujibur Rahman said the measles vaccination target had already been achieved. “Vaccination is now being given on a case-by-case basis. However, no sick child is being vaccinated,” he said. He added that between March 15 and May 19, 118 measles cases were detected across 10 districts of Khulna division, while 4,329 suspected cases were recorded. Of these, 3,912 patients were hospitalised and 3,506 recovered and returned home. He said 21 deaths had been reported, including 12 in Kushtia, five in Khulna, two in Jhenaidah, and one each in Chuadanga and Meherpur.
