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18-year drought facing Matildas trio in ultimate quest

This season's women's Champions League final between Barcelona and Arsenal will have a distinct Australian feel with three Matildas stars set to feature in Lisbon.

Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross will be hoping they can help Arsenal to their first Champions League success since 2007, standing in their way though is a Barcelona outfit which will be hunting for their third straight European title and fourth overall.

Arsenal's run in Europe has not been straightforward with their campaign built on resilience and character, which can be traced back to the qualification rounds where they overcame BK Hacken to secure a spot in the group stages.

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Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Kyra Cooney-Cross. Arsenal FC via Getty Images

In the quarter finals and semi finals Arsenal were forced to overturn first leg deficits which included a 4-1 away win against potential new Matildas coach Joe Montemurro's Lyon side.

Foord, whose strike gave Arsenal an unassailable 4-0 lead in France, believes the team is ready to contest the final and has the necessary tools to bring the title back to North London.

Talking to TNT after Arsenal's semi final victory over Lyon, Foord reiterated the excitement of taking on the defending champions, Barcelona.

"It's going to be a tough game, it's a final, anything can happen, so we will look forward to it and it's an exciting moment for us," Foord said.

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Head coach Renee Slegers who took over in October believes these hurdles highlight what the team is capable of.

"We've done some magical things and really good things under very high pressure. The [comebacks] show what we're capable of as a team and they are really, really high-level performances," she told UEFA.

The formidable task in front of them in the form of Barcelona, led by the midfield maestros Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, is one that Slegers respects but also insists that Arsenal have both the quality and mentality to overcome.

Alexia Putellas plays during the match between FC Barcelona Femeni and Athletic Club Femenino. NurPhoto via Getty Images

"We see what Barcelona have done in the league and in the Champions League, and they've done it over time as well, but we never go and play a game not believing that we can beat the opposition, otherwise there is no point," Slegers added.

Arsenal's own star studded team led by former Barcelona midfielder Mariona Caldentey possesses enough weapons to worry an all-conquering Barcelona, who eased to yet another domestic league and cup double.

Caldentey, who was voted the WSL's Player of the Season, has been a key piece in bringing a winning mentality to the North London Club which has also proved vital in Europe.

"I think what we are doing, it's not easy and it says a lot about the mentality of the team and what we want to do. I think it's amazing", Caldentey said.

In a week where Ange Postecoglou delivered on his second-year trophy promise with Tottenham Hotspur in the Europe League, Australian football fans will be hoping Arsenal's Matildas trio can make their own piece of history and deliver on club football's biggest stage.

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