Women’s Champions League Final: Arsenal defeat Barcelona as they claim prestigious prize
Ahead of Arsenal Women’s Champions League triumph, They came through CL qualifying and played fifteen matches to claim WCL trophy.
The joy of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League success will remain, days to come, in the hearts of many women’s football lovers and the clubs fans as Arsenal Women made history, yet again, by defeating current champions, Barcelona Women, in the final.
It was a sensational night in Portugal as Arsenal Women exhibited what they had always assured the world of being capable of.
They started the season amid fan chaos which brought about former manager Jonas Eidevall’s resignation from his role, but Siegel−who initially took over as an interim coach−was eventually named the permanent head coach in January and faith in her has been paid off by delivering the most covetted Women’s football prize.
She ameliorated the team and led Arsenal through a dicey group stage of the Women’s Champions League, to the final of the competition.
Arsenal Women have also made history for themselves by being the first English side to win the Women’s Champions League, having begun their journey in the first round of the qualifying.
She encouraged her side, who was written off by football experts and pundits in the days before, but defeating Barcelona in the final could come as a surprise to her.
Prior to the game, Atmosphere was building up in Lisbon, Portugal, throughout the day with Barcelona fans and other supporters doing their normal thing.
Thousands of fans and supporters, in blue and red stripped shirts, converged for a march outside the Estadio Jose Alvalade−where the final match was venued to take place−hours before the match started, and were heard making plenty of noise at the arrival of their star players and coach.
Barcelona had been here before and expected a similar result but were stunned by ‘underdogs’ Arsenal to 1-0 defeat.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, Arsenal fans were converging on Pink Street, sporting shirts with Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Little’s names adorning the backs of the shirts as they sang in support of their team.
Arsenal co-0nwer Josh Kroenke arrived in from Denver and was with executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, managing director Richard Garlick and director of women’s football Clare Wheatley.
A lettered picture on noticeboard depicting messages of support sent by the club’s fans at the club’s Sobha Realty Training Centre was brought to Lisbon to express their unanimous support for the team.
And even members of the 2007 Arsenal European winning team were in attendance, many having agreed to join Sleger’s team, for lunch, this week to celebrate their monumental success.
They could have been so impressed with Arsenal first-half display but frustrated none of the chances were converted.
Into the second half, they made effort a little and came to nothing but Blackstenius provided the masterclass when it most-needed.
After the full-time whistle, Arsenal’s player and staff raced onto the pitch to jubilate and celebrate their victory−many fell to their knees and others jumped, jumped into the embrace of others. It was a celebration characterised by pure joy and emotion.
Swimming against odd again. European champions again. This has always been Arsenal’s culture.
Arsenal Playing Their Wildcard Again
Stina Blackstenius netted the only goal of the game after coming on seven minutes as a substitute. She has been seen as the Arsenal’s frustratingly inconsistent wildcard−a female player capable of delivering moments of magic, and also missing even the biggest chance.
She did both in Lisbon but only few will remember them as the only goal came after missing a lot of chances that came before scoring the most decisive goal of her career.
Arsenal players did so well after the match to go over to share the sensational moment with their 4,500 travelling fans with many in tears.
Blackstenius had waited patiently on the bench, expecting her time to come on as she so often has been during her Arsenal career.
An added-time winning goal against Chelsea Women won Women’s League Cup trophy in 2024 and a late winner against Manchester City in the semi-finals in 2023 comprise her highlight reel but neither can be compared to the moment she balanced herself to strike the ball into the net, pass a tired Coll.
Arsenal had taken the hard path to the final, coming behind to in the quarter-finals to defeat Real Madrid and again in the semi-finals, where they dumped out record eight-time winners, Lyon−which was a greater achievement.
Dejected Barcelona Lament Missed Chance
Current Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati collapsed to her knees on the pitch, taken over by emotion after pre-game favourite claim turned out to be an unexpected loss.
After the final loss to Arsenal, she told Tv3 that she felt “devastated” by the outcome and comparing the letdown to the one she felt in 2022 after final loss to Lyon.
“I’m absolutely devastated. I don’t believe it. I just want to start the game again and do it differently. But this is football,” she said.
“Personally, this hurts me a lot. It’s tough. It’s hard looking at the stands and seeing all the supporters. It reminds me of Turin (when Barça lost their last final).”
Barcelona Women had come three of the last four editions of the competition, and were looking to become the second team ever to win the European title three times in a row.
Howbeit, they failed in their quest as could not getter better of the resilient Arsenal team with gritty defence.
