Arsenal vs Barcelona LIVE: Underdog Gunners make history with stunning Women’s Champions League win
Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona: Stina Blackstenius grabbed the only goal and the Gunners valiantly clung on to become European champions for the first time in 18 years
Stina Blackstenius struck a late winner as Arsenal shocked two-time holders Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon to dramatically claim their second Women’s Champions League title.
Arsenal withstood a flurry of Barca chances before Swedish star Blackstenius broke the deadlock in the 75th minute when she latched onto fellow substitute Beth Mead's reverse pass in a crowded penalty area and fired a low diagonal shot past goalkeeper Cata Coll at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Renee Slegers’s Gunners, who were making just their second appearance in the final for 18 years having won Europe's top competition in 2007, held on for a stunning victory to the delight of their 5,000 travelling fans.
The win comes against a mighty Barcelona team playing in their sixth final in seven years and who had hoisted the trophy in three of the past four campaigns. Saturday’s defeat was just their fourth loss of the season across all competitions.
Barcelona team news as Pina starts over Paralluelo
Barcelona’s spine has been familiar for many years, as is built around the key partnerships and experience of Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro in midfield and Mapi Leon and Irene Paredes in defence. Spain’s No 1 Cata Coll and right back Ona Batlle continue the Spanish spine of the team.
Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfo brings a versatile threat from left back while Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen is arguably the world’s best winger on the right. Up front, Barcelona have this season added the goals of Poland striker Ewa Pajor after her arrival from Wolfsburg.
Claudia Pina has ten goals in the Champions League this season, including three in the semi-final victory over Chelsea. She starts over Spain team-mate Salma Paralluelo on the left wing.
Barcelona Xi: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Guijarro, Bonmati, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina
Subs: Gemma , Roebuck, Jana, Paralluelo, Marta, Vicky, Engen, Brugts, Caño, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Judit
Arsenal’s strong form and Spanish rivalry
Arsenal enter the final with a solid record against Spanish teams: six wins, two draws, and four losses, scoring 25 goals and conceding 18.
This season, they overcame a 0-2 first-leg defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals by winning 3-0 at home, ending a three-game losing streak against Spanish opposition.
Prior to this, Arsenal hadn’t faced Spanish teams since their 2021/22 group stage losses to Barcelona, but historically they’ve done well against Spanish clubs, winning all four previous knockout ties including a memorable 7-0 aggregate win over Barcelona in 2012/13.
Key players Alessia Russo and former Barcelona star Mariona Caldentey have been crucial for Arsenal each netting eight goals this campaign.
Caldentey scored in both legs against Lyon in the semi-finals helping Arsenal reach the last four for the eighth time.
Russo and Caitlin Foord also contributed in the comeback win in France. Arsenal are making their 17th appearance in the Women’s Champions League, finishing top of a tough Group C this season and placing second in the Women’s Super League behind Chelsea.
After a coaching change in October, Renée Slegers has guided the team to this final building on the club’s strong European pedigree as the only English side to have reached two Champions League finals.
Arsenal team news as Van Domselaar and Kelly start
Arsenal line up exactly how they did in the 4-1 win at Lyon in the semi-final second leg, with Daphne van Domselaar fit to start in goal and replacing Manuela Zinsberger. Leah Williamson leads the defence and Steph Catley has emerged as her centre-back partner this season, with Emily Fox and Katie McCabe at full-back.
Mariona Caldentey has been influential from a deeper midfield position alongside captain Kim Little, with Frida Maanum allowed to roam further forward. On the wings, Arsenal carry pace and danger in Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord, while striker Alessia Russo has seven Champions League goals this season, level with Caldentey.
On the bench, Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius are options to change the game late on, while Arsenal could also turn to Lia Walti and Victoria Pelova in midfield. Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Condina could be required to see the game out late on.
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Caldentey; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Mead, Wälti, Hurtig, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Cooney-Cross
Arsenal’s comeback seals final spot
Arsenal, the only English team to have won the competition, earned their place in Lisbon with a remarkable comeback against Lyon.
After losing the first leg 1-2 at home, they bounced back with a 4-1 victory in France to secure a 5-3 aggregate win.
This final marks the fifth meeting between Arsenal and Barcelona, with both teams having won twice in their previous four encounters and scoring eight goals each, though Barcelona has dominated the most recent clashes.
Women's Champions League: Confirmed line-ups
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Caldentey; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Barcelona Xi: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Guijarro, Bonmati, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina
The line-ups are in. No surprises for either team. Daphne van Domselaar is fit to start in go for Arsenal and Barcelona go with Claudia Pina over Salma Paralluelo on left wing.
Barcelona aim for third straight title
The Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon is the stage for the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League final, where holders Barcelona will seek a third consecutive crown against Arsenal the 2007 champions.
Having won three of the last four tournaments, Barcelona reached their fifth straight final - matching Lyon’s record, after an impressive 8-2 aggregate win over Chelsea, defeating them 4-1 at home and away in the semi-finals for the third year running.
Aitana Bonmati reveals Barcelona’s feelings about favourites tag: ‘mindset to win’
“We've had a great season, so we're the team to beat. For us, it's a privilege, not a pressure. We are used to this and always have the mindset to win.
“One of the best qualities of our team is that we have the same ambition as the first day. This is not easy because if you are winning a lot, maybe you can relax, but this is not the case with our team.
"I think the experience we have now or I have now is even more than when I played the third final of the Champions League, it was the first time against Lyon – the team to beat.
"Now we are we maybe the team to beat, we have the experience. In these kinds of matches, experience is important because you have lived these kinds of scenarios in other times. This is one thing we have in our team.
"These emotions are difficult to put into words because we are born to play these matches and enjoy it with our crowd and our people here.
"I remember every single Champions League we play as unique moments I'll remember forever."
Arsenal team arrives
Arsenal have arrived at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, with just over 90 minutes to go until kick-off in Lisbon.
The Gunners were happy with the 5pm kick-off team, relieving them of the anxious wait that comes with a later kick-off.
Confirmed team news and line-ups will be arriving in the next half hour or so.
Chloe Kelly is the first Arsenal player to walk out onto the pitch - to a few whistles from the Barca fans already.
Barcelona sense Arsenal's resilience
Barcelona are wary of Arsenal’s route to the Women’s Champions League final and the strength they have shown to overturn first-leg defeats in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
The Spanish side are favourites but have been telling themselves that they cannot afford to relax if they make a typically fast start. Barcelona famously scored four first-half goals in the 2021 final against Chelsea and they want to be ruthless again this evening.
Atmosphere building in Lisbon
Arsenal and Barcelona is not just a great final in terms of two teams who want to play good football, but it also brings Europe’s two biggest fanbases when it comes to the women’s game together in Lisbon.
Barcelona swarmed Bilbao when they reached last year’s final against Lyon but there is more of an even split this time with plenty of Arsenal fans making the trip over.
For now, the Arsenal fans have gathered around the vibrant bars of Pink Street, while Barcelona have themselves a fan zone in the Praça do Comércio plaza.
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