Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Stina Blackstenius scored Arsenal’s winner in the Women’s Champions League final (AP)
Arsenal pulled off a major upset with a 1-0 win against Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final on Saturday.
Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius, on as a second-half substitute, scored the winner in the 75th minute as she was picked out with an excellent pass from Beth Mead before she finished low past Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll.
Arsenal were required to defend for large parts of the game against a Barcelona team who were heavy favourites to win the Champions League for the third year running after they swept aside domestic treble winners Chelsea with an 8-2 victory on aggregate in the semi-final.
Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League in 2007 and remain the only English club to have lifted the trophy.
Arsenal’s achievement in Europe this season is even more remarkable given their rocky start to the season which saw Jonas Eidevall resign as manager.
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Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Final - Arsenal v FC Barcelona - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - May 24, 2025 Arsenal's Chloe Kelly with teammates celebrate after winning the Champions League REUTERS/Rodrigo Antunes
Arsenal pulled off a huge upset against heavy favourites Barcelona (Reuters)
Renee Slegers was appointed as manager in January and oversaw an upturn in form, although their Champions League hopes looked bleak as they were forced to overcome first-leg defeats to both Real Madrid and Lyon.
Arsenal’s comeback away from home against eight-time winners Lyon in the semi-final set up a final against Barcelona, who were unable to find a way past a resilient Gunners defence.
Leah Williamson delivered a brilliant performance at the heart of Arsenal’s back line up against Polish striker Ewa Pajor, who has scored 41 goals in her debut season for Barcelona.
Arsenal thought they had taken the lead in the first half when Frida Maanum delivered a low cross and the ball was turned into her own net by Irene Paredes.
However, a VAR check revealed that Maanum had gone too early and was offside.
Arsenal were forced to defend deep after the break and capitalised with a quick move which was finished superbly by Blackstenius.
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