Arsenal Women produced the shock of all shocks to conquer Barcelona Women 1-0 in the Women’s Champions League final and be crowned queens of the continent for the second time.
Despite being faced with a Blaugrana side who slaughtered Chelsea 8-2 over two legs in the semi-finals, Renee Slegers‘s team played without fear from the start and were by far the more threatening in the first 45.
The Gunners briefly thought they had taken a shock lead when Irene Paredes inadvertently prodded the ball into her own net, but upon a VAR review, the goal was correctly disallowed for offside against Frida Maanum.
Barcelona belatedly came to life in the second period, but they were proving to be their own worst enemies in the final third, so often coming agonisingly close to the opening goal but missing by inches on several occasions.
The reigning champions were punished to the maximum in the 75th minute, as substitutes Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius combined for the latter to fire in the opening goal, which preceded the inevitable barrage of Barcelona attacks.
However, Pere Romeu‘s team were powerless to break down an impenetrable Arsenal defence, and after seven minutes of injury time, the Gunners exploded into euphoria as they dethroned the three-time European champions.
SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT
© Imago
If any Arsenal fans travelled to Lisbon in more hope than expectation, they would have been forgiven. After all, this was a Barcelona side who beat Chelsea 4-1 in both semi-final legs, the same Chelsea who went through the entire domestic campaign unbeaten.
The Gunners conceding 12 goals in their three final Women’s Super League games of the season also did not bode well, an underwhelming defensive record that should have had the likes of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas licking their lips.
However, while the Catalan giants did demonstrate their slick passing sequences, there was a surprising lack of cutting edge about their attacking play in the first half, and they were simply unable to locate the target in the second period.
At the same time, take nothing away from an inspired display from Slegers’s troops, whose renaissance under the tactically astute Dutchwoman has been nothing short of extraordinary; a penny for Jonas Eidevall‘s thoughts right now.
Slegers’s decision to bring on both Mead and Blackstenius proved to be a masterstroke, and eighteen years after becoming UEFA Women’s Cup winners in 2007, Arsenal are now on top of Europe again, and deservedly so.
ARSENAL VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
Stina Blackstenius goal vs. Barcelona (75th min, Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona)
😍 STINA STINGS BARÇA
Beth Mead sees Blackstenius, sets her up, and Arsenal lead 1-0!
📺 Watch the UEFA Women’s Champions League FINAL LIVE & FREE on DAZN!
🔗 https://t.co/dIfKpURfZv#UWCLonDAZN #EnjoyTheShow pic.twitter.com/qQiUNaghF4
— DAZN Women’s Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 24, 2025
This one is onside! This one will count! Arsenal have taken the lead against the mighty Barcelona!
The Gunners keep the attack alive after Barca can only half-deal with a corner, and Mead plays an exquisite reverse pass into fellow substitute Blackstenius, who keeps her composure and fires low into the bottom corner.
© Imago
Daphne van Domselaar was faultless in goal. Kim Little was as tenacious as ever in midfield. But the indomitable Leah Williamson produced a final performance for the ages, repelling attack after attack over the 100 minutes.
The England international came up with an astonishing 14 clearances, two blocks and two interceptions to thwart the favourites, and there are few more deserving recipients of a Champions League medal.
ARSENAL VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 32%-68% Barcelona
Shots: Arsenal 8-20 Barcelona
Shots on target: Arsenal 4-5 Barcelona
Corners: Arsenal 2-12 Barcelona
Fouls: Arsenal 4-10 Barcelona
BEST STATS
23 – Despite playing only 23 minutes in the @UWCL final, Stina Blackstenius…
…had the most shots for Arsenal (3, including the goal)
…made the most touches inside Barcelona’s box (5)
…made only 3 passes but completed all of them
Sub. pic.twitter.com/a6rq3rFVjY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2025
9 – @ArsenalWFC eliminated the winners of the last nine combined @UWCL editions (Lyon & Barcelona) on their way to this season’s trophy. Gunning. pic.twitter.com/nI2NbaIwmL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2025
2 – @ArsenalWFC have won their second @UWCL; their first was 18 years ago, the biggest gap between two trophies for a single club in the tournament’s history. Major. pic.twitter.com/bWcHccmhlk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
For the girls in red and white, a massive party. Their pursuit of WSL glory may have ended in failure, but the ultimate prize is theirs, and the Gunners competing at Euro 2025 will head into the tournament with the wind in their sails.
Meanwhile, a crestfallen Barcelona can restore some pride before the campaign concludes, as the Liga F champions face Atletico Madrid in the Copa de la Reina final on June 7.
VOTE IN THE 2024-25 SPORTS MOLE READERS’ AWARDS!
Voting is now open for the annual Sports Mole Readers’ Awards, where you can pick your player of the season, manager of the season, signing of the season and much more.
Click here to make your selections, and the winners will be announced on Monday, May 26!
No Data Analysis info
