Macdara Ferris
Sat, May 24 2025
Arsenal 1 (Stina Blackstenius 74’)
Barcelona 0
Macdara Ferris reports from the Estádio José Alvaladein Lisbon
Arsenal secured a famous European Cup crown on Saturday evening by beating Barcelona to become the queens of Europe as they won the Women’s Champions League final 1-0.
Barca, who had won three of the last four finals and were playing in their fifth final in a row, were heavy favourites for this one and may feel hard done by a defeat after a fine second half display but the Gunners defence held firm and when a chance came their way late on substitute Stina Blackstenius steered it home for an incredible winner.
Eighteen years since they last won the European Cup, Arsenal emulated that 2007 Gunners side. Their squad back then had three Irish winners (Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Treacy) and now added to the list of European champions in the women’s game from Ireland is the Girls in Green skipper Katie McCabe.
Arsenal certainly brought their A game to a Barcelona side who are used to dominating the play – last time out in the La Liga last weekend Barca ran out 9-0 winners when wrapping up their six title in a row.
With the majority of the crowd supporting the Catalan club, Arsenal did well to keep the crowd quiet for much of the first half with the crescendo rising every time Barca went on the attack.
Renée Slegers’ Arsenal side were maybe unlucky not to take a half time lead into a well-earned break at half-time. They had a goal ruled out after a VAR check for offside in the build up and Frida Maanum drew a super save from Catalina Coll who touched the shot from distance over her crossbar.
In the 27 degree heat for the 5pm kick-off, the shade cast across about 40% of the Estadio Jose Alvalade pitch played into the hands of McCabe. She linked up well up the left with Caitlin Foord who was playing wide of Alessio Russio with Chloe Kelly chosen on the right with Beth Mead named on the bench.
The first sight of goal for Barca came in the seventh minute when Daphne van Domselaar raced out of the Arsenal goal to clear. Barcelona couldn’t fire back a long shot back as she ran back to goal. The Gunners rode their luck as a comedy of errors at the back three minutes later should have seen them a goal down but the Catalan club couldn’t force it home.
Having weathered that early storm, Arsenal took the game on. Foord should have done better with a header at the backpost and then Chloe Kelly fired a volley home over after Foord ran onto McCabe’s pass to cross.
Midway through the opening half Arsenal had the ball in the net. Frida Magnuum’s run down the right and centre saw Irene Paredes put through her own net. The goal was given, only to be overruled after a VAR review.
McCabe took one cross in the mush, and some timely interventions at the back from Leah Williamson to Uwa Pajor and Kim Little to a Claudia Pina effort, along with a van Domselaar punch and save of Aitana Bonmati’s shot, all kept Barca at bay, with it scoreless at the break.
The Spanish champions really stepped it up in the second half. Pina pinged an early effort off the crossbar with Emily Fox’s touch taking it onto the woodwork. The Barca pressure kept building. Ona Batlle's shot flashed by the post after great build up play with Bonmati and Putella involved.
Just after the hour mark Bonmati drew a save from van Domselaar who got down well to push away. That chance came after a fine McCabe run only for her team to lose possession and Barca exploit the space behind her.
Barcelona failed to press home all their possession and precise passing, and allowed Arsenal to come back into the game.
The Kilnamanagh native went down in the Barca box under a heavy challenge but the Croatian ref waved play on.
Barca pegged Arsenal back in their own half but in the 72nd minute an Alessio Russo run was almost rewarded with a goal only for the foot of Coll to save her team.
However two minutes later the English side had the lead as substitute Stina Blacksenius found the back of the net. Arsenal reworked Mariona Caldentey’s corner and when she played it central to sub Beth Mead her pass was struck home sweetly by the Swede with her right foot.
The champions from the last two seasons tried in vain to find an equaliser to take the game to extra-time but to no avail as it with the Arsenal players who sunk to the ground in joy before dancing in the corner with their supporters while it was despair for Pere Romeu’s side.
Arsenal Women: Daphne van Domselaar; Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe; Kim Little ©, Frida Maanum (Stina Blackstenius 67), Mariona Caldentey; Cloé Kelly (Beth Mead 67), Alessia Russo (Lotte Wubben-Moy 90+1), Caitlin Foord (Lina Hurtig 86).
Subs not used: Naomi Williams, Jenna Nighswonger, Manuela Zinsberger, Laia Codina Panedas, Amanda Ilestedt, Lia Walti, Victoria Pelova, Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Booked: Cloé Kelly (65).
Barcelona W: Catalina Coll Lluch; Ona Batlle Pascual, Irene Paredes, Maria León (Ingrid Syrstad Engen 78), Fridolina Rolfo (Emsee Brugts 78); Aitana Bonmatí, Patricia Guijarro, Alexia Putellas; Caroline Graham, Uwa Pajor, Claudia Pina (Salma Paralluelo 62).
Subs not used: Ellie Roebuck, Gemma Font, Marta Torrejon, Jana Fernandez, Vicky López, Sydney Schertenleib, Alba Cano, Clara Serrajordi, Judit Pujols
Booked: Irene Paredes (50), Salma Paralluelo (88).
Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia).
Attendance: 40,000 (estimate)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
[image or embed]
— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 24 May 2025 at 06:02