Barcelona stunned, Arsenal are champions. The Gunners had Barcelona’s number today and Stina Blackstenius’ goal was enough to down the back-to-back champions. An unbelievable performance and history-making trophy win.You can recap all of the action in the report below. From us, thank you for being with us throughout this Women’s Champions League tournament and we look forward to bringing you coverage next season. For now, have a great weekend.
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David says: “The script writers were definitely having a laugh tonight. Stina Blackstenius spent the season missing one sitter after another and then all she does is pop up to score the winner in a European final. Football, bloody hell.”
She is a big game player, remember the late goals in the WSL last season? A huge player for the Gunners.
Ian Wright has also called for the team to get a celebration parade. He says the women’s team have “saved” the club with it being the only silverware across all teams to have been won this season.
Ian Wright has joined the TV coverage and said: “I can’t believe it. this is the first time I watched a game and my heart went funny. Today Leah, Steph, everybody. They all done the job. That’s what it needed against Barcelona. In the end I thought they didn’t turn up.
“Stina could have had a hat-trick. Stina changed it. It is great, I was praying for the subs, I thought we were getting pinned in. When Stina came on we knew we could threaten them there.”
West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner has posted on X and said: “Absolutely delighted to see an English team lift the @UWCL trophy again. Massive congratulations to @ArsenalWFC & Renee Slegers what a fantastic achievement & for everyone involved.”
Arsenal captain Kim Little tells TNT Sports: “You go day-to-day and you put in the work. We have had a good campaign and it felt like our year. Today we knew it was one game and we had to execute our game plan, the whole team did that incredibly well.”
Ian Wright is shown on the TV getting really emotional as soon as he sees Kelly Smith. The Arsenal legend is such an incredible supporter of the women’s team and he will be so proud of that team.
“Not an Arsenal fan here but chuffed to bits to see them lift the WCL,” Sam says. “My twin 7yo girls idolise Beth Mead & Leah Williamson, so the joy for them was something to behold. Add to that my partner is an Aberdeen fan, so a Scottish Cup win to celebrate, too. Me: I’m a Blade… but two wins out of three ain’t bad, I suppose!”
Ah apologies for the loss for your team but, as you say not a bad record! A lovely moment for your girls too.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers tells TNT Sports: “We knew it was going to be a game of momentum shifts. We spoke about the first 10-20 minutes we had to get through those. They came here very confident because they are a very good team. The resilience we showed was incredible.”
What it means:
It will be interesting to see the impact of this trophy win on English football. Everyone saw the uptick in crowds, sponsorships, broadcasting when England won the Euros. This is the first Champions League title won by an English side since then.
Renée Slegers is the youngest woman to win the Women’s Champions League as a manager. She did it just four months after becoming the permanent boss for the Gunners.
Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius, the goalscorer told TNT Sports: “I can’t believe it. It was such a team performance and I can’t believe we win the Champions League. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I am so happy. They said I should try and run in behind and try and stretch them but this is a team performance.”
Kelly Smith says she can’t believe it, adding: “I thought we had the better chances in the second half. What a squad this is. My nerves were awful in the last 10 minutes. I didn’t play the final in 2007 because of suspension and I had the same feelings today. We really believed we could win today if we were on our A game and we were.”
They are now belting out North London forever. The team are arm-in-arm facing a red wall of fans. So emotional. This moment is just what English women’s football needs.
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It has been 18 years since Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League. They are the only English team to do so and remain the only one. It’s also special for their fans who have shown up time and time again for their team.
Tony has got in touch and shows what this means: “I’m sitting here with my wife, who I met through football, in tears. So happy. Well done Arsenal.”
Did you meet through the Gunners?
Kim Little grasps the trophy with a huge smile on her face. She and Leah Williamson hold it together as they lift it with golden confetti raining down and the Champions League anthem playing. Emotional. Significant. History.
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Each Arsenal player is kissing the trophy as they go past the silverware. And captain Kim Little is at the back, someone who has been at the club off and on since 2008. What a moment it will be when she lifts this trophy.
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Mariona Caldentey has also won the Champions League for the third season in a row. She won two in a row with Barcelona and then moved to Arsenal in the summer.
Here come the Gunners. Barca give them a guard of honour.
Barcelona now collect their runner-up medals, they look dejected but they will be back. They have produced some special, special moments in this tournament.
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A reminder that Arsenal knocked out eight-time winners Lyon in the semis too. This is no fluke. Arsenal thoroughly deserve this win.
The refereeing team, who had a great game, now collect their medals.
Renée Slegers was not the manager of Arsenal at the start of the season. She took over after Jonas Eidevall resigned and the team have just gone from strength-to-strength. 18 years ago when Arsenal won the Champions League Slegers was an Arsenal academy player. Now she is a European winner as the manager. Mental.
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson told TNT Sports: “I don’t believe it. There has been a lot of this team who have been working to get to the next level. A lot of players have had the game of their lives. I am just so happy. We changed the game plan a little in the week and that paid off.”
Alessia Russo also said the club may be celebrating with fans at the Emirates on Monday, maybe a sneak peek into their plans.
Arsenal Katie McCabe adds: “Barcelona threw absolutely threw everything at it but we rode the storm. It was unbelievable to give this to our fans, the players who have given so much.”
Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, who is visibly emotional, told TNT Sports: “We worked so hard and it just feels amazing. We had to suffer a lot, they are a top side. We knew we would have to suffer and there would have to be content not having the ball. When Stina, Beth, Lina came on, everyone, the whole squad wanted this so much.
“It feels surreal. We knew we could win, we knew we had the capabilities and it was just about going and doing it.”
The Arsenal team hold hands and run over to the stands and jump in celebration for their fans. Huge. The stories in this team are also special. Chloe Kelly coming in on loan in the winter window. Beth Mead’s emotional off pitch journey. Stina Blackstenius’ struggles with minutes. These moments are why they play the game and it restores faith that the dominance of Barca can be crumbled.
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Karen Carney has just called for a parade for this Arsenal team and I could not agree more. They thoroughly deserve it.
“Not an Arsenal fan, Liverpool for us,” Dom says. “But come on Gunners! It’s important for women’s football that Chelsea and Barcelona don’t win everything. And any win in Europe for and English team is something to celebrate!”
Absolutely. Some of Arsenal’s rivals may not want to celebrate but they will respect the astronomical performance by this Gunners team. It was unbelievable.
Bonmati is inconsolable. A huge player who was once again Barcelona’s best player tonight. A three-time Champions League winner who will be back in the final, there’s no doubt about that.
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The Gunners bench rush onto the pitch and the majority go to Blackstenius, who scored the only goal on the game. The screams from the 5,000 Arsenal in the stands are clear. Williamson, the mascot 18 years ago, cannot stop smiling.
Full time: Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona
Arsenal have done it. They have defied expectations, they have proved all of their doubters wrong. They have their hands on the Champions League trophy once again. What a moment.
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90 + 7 min: The free kick is well managed as Mead takes it to the corner but it then goes out for a goal kick. Barcelona have limited chances now.
90 + 6 min: Barcelona have another corner and they whip it into the box again. It’s headed clear but Barca initially keep it alive but Arsenal win it back and then win a free kick. Caldentey – who will win the Champions League for a third season in a row if Arsenal see this out – with excellent game management.
90 + 4 min: The corner comes in but Arsenal do well again to clear it, they just have Barcelona’s number today. Stunning performance.
90 + 3 min: Barcelona just looking less and less like themselves as this final rolls on. But Arsenal need to stay switched on, Williamson doing just that as she concedes a corner.
90 + 2 min: Russo is coming off for Wubben-Moy, good game management from Arsenal.
90 + 1 min: There will be seven minutes added. A big chunk of time.
90 min: Kari, I’m presuming an Arsenal fan, writes: “I’m only able to watch the game if I make sure I don’t actually look at the score in the corner. I don’t want to believe just yet, because I couldn’t take the heartbreak.”
Only a few minutes to go.
89 min: Arsenal fans, how are you feeling? Some nervous moments towards the end of this game. Another water break now.
88 min: Barca are starting to throw everything at Arsenal but it feels like it too, slightly desperate passing. If they can get a touch of their clinicism they will be right back in this. And as I type that, they win a corner. It’s defended well though and it’s away.
86 min: Barcelona fans want a free kick on the edge of the box from a foul on Graham Hansen from McCabe but it isn’t given. Arsenal make a change and it’s Hurtig off for Foord. A lovely touch for Hurtig as it is her final game for Arsenal, her game against Juventus crucial to the Gunners topping their group.
84 min: Bonmati takes the set piece and she sends it in. Williamson heads it clear but Barca keep it moving. Putellas pops it into the box but Van Domselaar claims it.
83 min: Bonmati has a shot and it takes a deflection, it’s out for a corner.
82 min: Barca come so close to levelling but a great bit of defence from Williamson sees it clear. Barcelona fans rain down boos as Arsenal players look to wind down the clock here.
81 min: Remember Barca won their quarter-final 10-2 on aggregate and their semi-final 8-2 on aggregate. This is such a heroic performance from Arsenal if they see this out. The underdogs are on track for the win.
80 min: Brugts is on for Rolfo and Engen is on too, unsure who for I will track that down! Foord also was down for a while but she is now back to her feet.
78 min: Barca get a corner and this time they go long but it’s straight out. Arsenal really need to control this game now. Just over 10 minutes left, game management will be key.
77 min: Apologies I initially credited Russo with that goal but it was Blackstenius, who had been on the pitch for just eight minutes, who slots it home. Huge.
The corner was initially repelled but the Gunners kept it alive. Mead popped a lovely ball through to Blackstenius and rolls it past Coll. The goalkeeper doesn’t even move. Oh my word.
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GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona (Blackstenius, 75)
Oh my word.
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74 min: Blackstenius is proving a real thorn in Barcelona’s side, another great run from her forces Paredes to concede a corner.
73 min: Blackstenius wins the ball high up and she goes on a fantastic run, takes the shot but a great save from Coll stops the effort. The Arsenal star could have laid it off to Mead but she went alone. Barca then break and Pajor’s effort is over the bar. The game is starting to break up more now we’re into the final 20.
71 min: Corner is short again but it comes into the box, Arsenal stick to the Barca players like glue though and they don’t have enough space to shoot. The Gunners clear. Denis has also got back to me and confirmed he was a pro skier, what a baller.
70 min: McCabe had a bit of treatment there too but she is okay to continue, just a slightly painful shin. Barcelona get some passes together and they are oh so close to the opener. Pajor’s shot is deflected by Catley for a corner.
68 min: Arsenal make a double change with Mead and Blackstenius on for Maanum and Kelly.
67 min: Kelly is shown a yellow card for a shove on Putellas, an unnecessary foul to give away. There is a slight break in play for a water break, it remains around 27 degress in Lisbon.
65 min: McCabe goes down in the box but no penalty is given, the Arsenal players did not protest so seems the right decision. The star is okay to continue.
64 min: Paralluelo straight into the action as Barca looks for the opener. Again it comes to Batlle and she takes a shot from a far out position. She must have been slotting them for fun in training because she just keeps trying the move. Van Domselaar saves once again.
62 min: Leon takes the corner short again, the move has not worked yet will it now? No but it was close. It is passed to Batlle at long range and it’s just over. Barca now make their first change with Paralluelo on for Pina.
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61 min: The corner is taken short again but it come in, Maanum watches it closely and clears. Barca keep their momentum going and Bonmati rifles off a shot. Van Domselaar makes another good save but concedes a corner.
60 min: A good ball into the box comes from Williamson but no one was tracking the move and Coll is able to clear. Barcelona counter but Foord – again – does really well to muscle the chance out of the box, the Australian is a star for the Gunners so far. Barca win it back and win a corner.
58 min: “I was ski racing back then,” says Denis of his 2007 antics. “Not very successful but wickedly good fun.”
Just as a hobby Denis or were you an aspiring professional?
56 min: Bonmati punches the air in frustration after putting in a great ball into the box, only for it to be caught by Van Domselaar.
55 min: Arsenal are also doing a great job in defence, they are nudging Barca just off of their centre and they can’t quite get things clicking.
54 min: Barca feel as though they are getting closer, this time with a shot just wide from Batlle. But they still aren’t their characteristic selves. A lot of loose passes and heavy touches.
52 min: Paredes gives away a free kick and gets a yellow card for a foul on Foord. McCabe is the taker and it’s a good delivery, Foord then fouls Batlle and the danger is gone.
51 min: That was some sumptuous football by Barca. Beautiful passing and the shot comes from Pina who smacks the bar. The closest Barca have come all game.
49 min: Barcelona fans don’t like the decision but a free kick has been given after a foul from Patri. The Gunners work it into the box but Foord’s shot is blocked by Paredes.
48 min: Barcelona win an early second half corner with Bonmati the taker, they go short but it comes to Pina. She takes a long range shot but Van Domselaar collects.
47 min: “2007 was a pretty stressful year for me, actually,” Joe Pearson says. “After my company acquired another, it was my job to integrate the organizations. Part of the deal was to offer all their employees a job. So in the end, I gave my own job to one of theirs. Then I had to struggle to find a place for me in the new structure. Managed to survive. Then turned fifty. Thanks for making me break out in a cold sweat of memory.
“As for snacks, I have had some cheese (with cracked black pepper) and crackers, paired with some salami and sweet and spicy pickles. There may have been a glass of wine in the mix as well.”
That does sound so stressful but at least you have amazing snacks to help put that memory from 18 years ago in the distance. Thank you for sharing Joe. Just to confirm, no half-time changes either.
Back underway: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Can Arsenal continue their good form in this final and see it out? Or will Barcelona retain their crown? All to come but remember 0-0 at full time and we head to extra time, then the dreaded penalties. I don’t think there have been any changes for either side yet.
That was such an encouraging first 45 minutes for Arsenal. The Barcelona fans are a little bit quiet at the moment and that reflects how well the English side have performed so far.
The call out to hear from you was what were you doing in 2007? That was the last time Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League. I was in primary school and a huge Girls Aloud fan, what were you doing? Email me and let me know.
This is the moment that could have separated the teams at half-time. Irene Paredes, the player on the floor with her hands on her face, turned it goalward. But Mapi Leon calls for the referee to check for offside and VAR were already on it. It was ruled out and the final stands at 0-0.
Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Irene Paredes thought she had scored an own goal to give Arsenal the lead but it was ruled out for an earlier offside. Barcelona have had chances through Aitana Bonmati and Arsenal’s Frida Maanum has also come close but it remains 0-0 is a competitive match.
45 + 1 min: There will be one minute added.
45 min: Foord thought she had won a corner but it’s given as a goal kick, on the reply I think it should have been a corner. But Arsenal win it, they get it in the box but it’s out for a goal kick.
43 min: Barcelona want a penalty as a ball came in for Graham Hansen with the defending champions saying there was a hand ball. Nothing has been given but a reminder VAR is in operation so they will be checking in the background.
41 min: Can the deadlock be broken before half-time? As things look right now Barca looks the more likely. Pina has a shot blocked, the Barcelona star looking to extend her top-scorer tally.
39 min: Barca take the corner short but it comes with Van Domselaar punching clear once again. The goalkeeper has been unbelievable for Arsenal this season and is impressing in this final.
38 min: Another Barcelona corner as the defending champions continue to build. McCabe saw it out with her face, that looked like a painful one.
36 min: Williamson does excellently as Barca break, she hones in on the ball and executes a tackle perfectly to clear. Brilliant from the England captain.
35 min: It’s a poor corner but Barca keep it alive with a long ball from Bonmati. Van Domselaar punches away and Arsenal breathe again.
34 min: Arsenal largely doing well to take the sting out of Barca’s attack. But one moment and the defending champions can score and Rolfo almost creates one. She crosses in but Foord tackles well to concede a corner.
32 min: This time it is Barca’s turn to make their opposition nervous. Bonmati finds some space and weaves herself into a shooting position but Van Domselaar makes the save.
31 min: Again, Arsenal with a delightful move that looks straight off of the training ground. They were running rings around Barca there. Kelly’s cross across the box just doesn’t quite reach a teammate.
30 min: Foord, who has a really great start to the game, wins a free kick in Arsenal’s own half. They build from deep but then let it roll out of play.
29 min: Kelly takes the corner and the delivery is a good one but it’s repelled. It drops for Little but her effort goes over the bar. Arsenal the team closer to breaking this deadlock.
28 min: Well that would have been an absolute screamer. Maanum takes a long range shot and it takes an excellent touch from Coll to keep it out. Arsenal corner to come.
26 min: Russo crosses in and finds Fox but Pina does well to put her off and Coll can collect her shot. The Gunners taking confidence from their almost lead.
24 min: Paredes went straight to her goalkeeper and they had an embrace as that was etched off. The defender is seriously relieved with that.
NO GOAL! Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
It’s been ruled out because Kelly is offside. Barca breathe a sigh of relief.
Kelly looked to cross it and Paredes took a touch and it went it. Though there is a goal check.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona (Paredes OG, 22)
Oh my word. That wasn’t in the script.
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21 min: Putellas gets into the box but again Arsenal repel the effort. The question starts to be raised of just how long the Gunners can remain a red wall?
19 min: Arsenal manager Slegers was just shown telling her players to calm down as Barca were just starting to wrestle some momentum. These moments will be crucial in this final.
17 min: The set piece is taken by Leon and the delivery is good but Russo heads it clear, well read by the England international. Barca keep their move alive though and it comes in but Van Domselaar punches clear.
16 min: A slightly slower tempo to the game in the last few minutes, which may be a relief for Arsenal with a lot of their players already red in the face with the heat in Lisbon. Barca now win a corner.
15 min: Another great move from the Gunners with another excellent ball, this time to Kelly but she biffs it over the bar. Not the most elegant word biff, but it sums up that shot.
13 min: Barca immediately reply and Bonmati takes a shot, it’s deflected and Van Domselaar can pick it up. A lively start to this final.
12 min: Arsenal on the attack now and a great ball comes to Foord, she square it into the box but no one is there to pick it up. May have been a better option to try and take a shot herself there but Arsenal starting to show their attacking teeth.
10 min: Arsenal absolutely scrambling in the box as they try to clear repeatedly and it keeps going into the feet of Barca players. The Gunners so lucky a clean chance was not taken there. Wow.
8 min: Both sides are being slightly sloppy in the final third so far, the chances are being created but the last passes are just not sticking. But here come Barcelona, Putellas looks to cross but Fox sees it out. The throw in comes in and Barca take a shot but it’s wide. Pina went down earlier in the play as it looks like Kelly gave her a nudge, she is okay to continue.
7 min: Bonmati has a cracking run and no matter how hard Arsenal try they can’t dispossess her. She passes but Graham Hansen can’t keep it in the pitch. That felt like a warning from Barca.
5 min: Patri does really well to marshall the ball out with Maanum wanting to win a corner, the Arsenal player looked like she was wincing a bit after that but she carries on.
3 min: Arsenal pressing high early on but they have just had too much on a pass and touch so far, they are bang up for this.
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2 min: Barcelona fans’ voices ringing around the stadium, as our on the ground reporter Tom Garry said a little earlier it feels like a home Barca game. Both finding their feet early on.
Kick-off! Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Here we go.
The players are now out on the pitch with the famous Champions League anthem about to play. Who will come out on top? We’re about to find out.
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Tom Garry has also been analysing the game in the build-up and you can read his piece here:
Alessia Russo is Arsenal’s star with much-improved form under Renee Slegers but can she become a Gunners legend in this final? Suzy Wrack has delved into the topic:
The final is a sell out today and the atmosphere is absolutely sparkling already, this is going to be a special.
It is not just a warm afternoon here, it’s that type of dry heat with sun traps that saps your energy, without the cool breeze that had freshened the air at the World Sevens Football event along the coast over the past three days. The temperature is officially 28 degrees right now here in Lisbon but somebody standing pitchside has just told me it feels a lot, lot warmer than that within the bowl of the stadium, where the air is just cooking in the sunshine. The heat could certainly be a factor in this game. Barcelona will be used to it, that’s for sure.
Back in 2007 the first iPhone was released, the final Harry Potter book was published and Tony Blair stood down as Prime Minister. It also happens to be the year Arsenal last won the Women’s Champions League. What were you up to that year? Get in touch and let me know! I was in primary school and a huge Girls Aloud fan, email me yours.
A great piece on Barcelona, who head into the game as favourites today:
Arsenal defender Leah Williamson was a mascot the last time the Gunners were in the Women’s Champions League final. Today she starts for the side, she spoke to Suzy Wrack about her journey here:
Around 5,000 Arsenal fans are expected in Lisbon today, while there are believed to be at least 30,000 Barcelona supporters descending on the Portuguese capital. There is a spotless, blue sky above the city. Since the pandemic, Barcelona fans have got used to this end-of-season showpiece and it’s become something of a pilgrimage for their fans - I spoke to one Barca fan this morning who is attending the final for the third year in a row and saved up for six months to buy their flights. Arsenal, on the other hand, are at this stage for the first time in 18 years. There’s a novelty to this event for their fans, rather than a routine.
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Manchester City and former Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema is in Lisbon for the final, supporting her partner Beth Mead. She was asked by ESPN who she thinks will win the game today: “Barcelona has a lot of quality. I played against them with City at the beginning of the season. If I have to predict, I think Barcelona.”
Final team news
The team news is in. Crucially for Arsenal star goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is fit and starts the final.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum, Foord, Kelly, Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Hurtig, Mead, Blackstenius
Barcelona, meanwhile, have their full line-up of icons fully loaded. They have so many Salma Paralluelo is on the bench.
Barcelona: Coll, Paredes, Leon, Pina, Graham Hansen, Putellas, Patri, Bonmati, Rolfo, Pajor, Batlle
Subs: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Paralluelo, Marta, Vicky, Engen, Brugts, Cane, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Judit
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Some intriguing news fans need to know about next season’s Women’s Champions League:
Are the nerves kicking in yet? Any predictions for the match? I’d love to hear. Give me an email and get in touch.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Women’s Champions League final where Arsenal will try and defy the odds once again to lift the trophy for the second time in their history.
They come up against the in-form team in this competition in Barcelona which is why the Gunners head into the game a underdogs. Defending champions Barca defeated Wolfsburg 10-2 on aggregate in their quarter-final and treble domestic champions Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the semi-final.
But Arsenal themselves had impressive knockout matches, coming from 2-0 down to beat Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the quarters and they downed eight-time winners Lyon 5-3 in the semis.
The Gunners were also the last English team to win this trophy, back in 2007 when they achieved the quadruple. Can they do it again? We will find out in a few short hours with kick-off coming at 5pm BST. First is the team news which will be dropping shortly, so stay tuned.
