Faced with the Catalan training of FC Barcelona , title holder and given greatly favorite, Arsenal won the second Champions League in its history (1-0), Saturday May 24 on the lawn of the José Alvalade XXI stadium in Lisbon . The Londoners, who found the taste of a continental final for the first time since their coronation in 2007, quickly rediscovered its intensity and the meaning of dramaturgy.
Cheering from the 23rd minute of play, following a goal scored against his own team by the experienced defender of Barça Irene Paredes , the Gunners thought they took the lead in a meeting that had been dominated by the Catalans . However, Frida Maanum , initially offside, saw her goal disallowed by video arbitration. The two teams later joined the locker room without any goals scored, letting the first half finish without significant offensive plays.
Driven by their frustrations, the Barcelona squad returned to the field with a firm resolve to regain their dominance. With their two Ballon d’Or recipients— Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Aitana Bonmati (2023, 2024)—the Spanish team, adhering to its offensive philosophy, failed to score despite numerous attempts against the Gunners’ net, guarded by the Dutch goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar , who made five crucial saves. In a surprising turn of events, Stina Blackstenius , the Swedish center-forward for Arsenal, finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, perfectly set up by Bethany Mead . That narrow advantage was one that the English club did not relinquish.
“This Is the Team We Want to Be”
Having been surpassed by their rivals Chelsea in the league, the Gunners approached the final as the underdogs, while Barcelona aimed to solidify their stronghold over European football. This dynamic was well understood by Arsenal’s head coach Renée Slegers , who stated, “They are very strong with the ball and have added rapid attacks to their game, while remaining disciplined in all phases of play. This is the team we want to be, too. We have to be disciplined for eighty minutes, or more, and if we get there, we will have a good game plan.“
By effectively containing Barcelona’s offensive efforts, notably with a central defense led by Leah Williamson , Arsenal demonstrated tactical prowess reminiscent of their previous encounters, where they had displayed their solidity against top clubs. This performance added to their legacy and served as a reminder of their tactical growth and strength.
In addition to the team glory, Arsenal’s victory reshuffles the dynamics of the upcoming 2025 Golden Ball race, which has been predominantly ruled by Barcelona players. Set to unfold in Switzerland from July 2 to 27, the stakes are high as England will defend its title against formidable opponents while several Spanish players from Barcelona will be eager to reclaim their glory.