Arsenal lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a 1-0 victory that ended Barcelona’s hopes for three peats.
Arsenal upset defending champion Barcelona 1-0, winning the Women’s Champions League for the second time.
Stina Blackstenius scored in the final at Estudio Jose Alvarede in Lisbon on Saturday, 75 minutes after being set up by second half replacement Beth Mead.
The Arsenal title came 18 years after it became the first and yet only English club.
The Arsenal players hugged their final whistles and ran to celebrate in front of the red and white corners of the stands.
“From the moment we began our Champions League journey, we believed,” Arsenal striker Alesia Russo told broadcaster TNT Sports. “We knew we were capable, we knew we could do good enough, and that was just doing it.
Barcelona was considered a heavy favorite. They were aiming for their fourth title in five years and were aiming to become the only team other than Lyon, having won three consecutive titles. The two-time Ballon d’Or-led team led by Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas won nine consecutive matches, blew Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout round.
However, Arsenal, with the exception of the early days of the second half, was locked up in defense and created the best chance. Only two great saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Kata Kol kept it scoreless until Black Stenius finally beat her to deny Frida Maanum and Black Stenius.
The victory marks an incredible finish for Arsenal’s rocky season, including manager Jonas Adeval’s resignation and being replaced by assistant Renee Segler.
Since taking over, Segler has piloted the team through an epic European campaign. Arsenal built up confidence after appearing over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout round before lining up the almighty Barcelona low.
This loss was a major disappointment for a large group of Barcelona fans who filled the stadium, home of Sports Lisbon. The blue and burgundy shirts and flags outweighed the red and white sections, but “Yes, we can do that!” the final minutes were not enough to inspire a comeback by the Catalan club.
The closest Barcelona reached the goal was a shot by Claudia Pina who hit the crossbar just after halftime as the Spanish team had their best period. Otherwise, the game would have been Arsenal’s preference.
“I’m sorry to all the fans who came to support us,” Bonmati told Catalonia Radio on the field before the awards ceremony. “I’ll try to do it again.”
Arsenal shook off the early fears of his defense and quickly put Barcelona on his hind legs. Arsenal’s on-field pressure stopped Barcelona from winning the game they owned, and Arsenal found space with a long ball on their left flank.
England’s striker Russo was an Arsenal rock and used her size to get the ball and continue his attack.
Arsenal thought it was moving forward on the 22nd, but when the umpire found an offside by Frida Maanum, a video review abandoned Barcelona’s Irene Paredes’s own goal. Maanum then approached on the 27th with a long shot, and Coll stretched out her bar and pushed it well.
Bonmati was the only Barcelona player who appeared to be playing before halftime. Her dribbling moved through the middle, creating some threats and kept Arsenal on guard in defense. Leah Williamson blocked her best shot deep inside the box on the 12th.
Barcelona came out of the reboot fire.
Pina hit the woodworking with a tip shot from a sharp angle on the 49th. Bonmaty forced goalkeeper Daphne Van Donseral to parry her shot, and Ona Battle fired the area with a long-range three-shot.
However, Blackstenius set the tone when she had a golden chance when she stole the ball with just a beat, but the goalkeeper put her foot out to block her efforts in the 72nd. The Swedish forward will never be rejected again.
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