Football | Arsenal 1 - 0 Barcelona

Arsenal beat Barcelona to clinch historic Champions League title

Stina Blackstenius fired Arsenal to victory over Barcelona in Lisbon, sealing the club’s first UEFA Women’s Champions League title in 18 years.

Author | DJ

The Swedish striker latched onto a pinpoint pass from Beth Mead before finishing with clinical precision past Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll from close range. It proved to be the decisive moment in a fiercely contested final, one that will live long in the memory of Arsenal fans.

Few had tipped Arsenal to emerge victorious. Barcelona came into the final as reigning champions, having lifted three of the past four Champions League trophies and fielding two Ballon d’Or winners in Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas. Yet the Spanish side failed to find their rhythm against a disciplined and defiant Arsenal performance.

The Gunners thought they had taken the lead in the first half when defender Irene Paredes turned the ball into her own net, only for the goal to be chalked off following a VAR review that judged Frida Maanum to be offside in the build-up.

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Arsenal, though, kept pressing. Maanum continued to trouble the Barcelona defence and forced a sharp save from Coll with a fierce drive from the edge of the area. Captain Kim Little then squandered a clear opportunity, blasting over from a corner with the goal at her mercy.

Barcelona responded after the break, finding more space and testing Arsenal's resilience. Ewa Pajor’s cross-shot clipped the crossbar while Ona Batlle and Pajor both forced desperate defending from the Gunners’ backline. Time and again, Arsenal’s defenders threw themselves in front of shots, silencing the strong Catalan support.

Fantastic atmosphere pre match

As the final whistle sounded, Arsenal’s players collapsed in celebration. This victory not only ended a near two-decade wait for European glory but also marked a defining moment under manager Renee Slegers, whose leadership has instilled fresh belief in the squad.

For Arsenal, this was more than a win. It was a statement of intent, a reminder that they remain a force in European football.