The women’s champions league match between Arsenal and Barcelona was won by 1-0 on Saturday in Lisbon, with Stina Blackstenius’ goal giving the Gunners their second European crown in the process.
The Swedish striker’s drilled effort in the 74th minute gave Renee Slegers’ team the lead over a resolute Barcelona side that had won the trophy three times in the previous four seasons.
Arsenal defeated Barca in the first half to win the trophy, but they were back in the final for the first time since winning it in 2007, before Blackstenius struck on the counter-attack.
The only British Champions League winners prevented Pere Romeu’s Barca from claiming the trophy for a third consecutive year by superb victories over record-eight-time champions Lyon in the semi-final.
Arsenal struggled to follow Aitana Bonmati’s darting movement, which the Spanish champions Barcelona had to work under a tense Lisbon sun in the opening stages.
Dutchman Daphne van Domselaar was reinstated by Arsenal coach Sleger, who quickly sprinted away crosses to keep her team afloat.
Irene Paredes attempted to cut out a cross and divert the ball into her own net midway through the first half, but Frida Maanum’s offside was denied in the build-up.
The normally composed Catalans were shook by it, and Sleger’s team was persuaded.
Read more about the Five Dramatic CAF Champions League Finals here.
When a corner opened up to her, Maanum was in the lead with a drive that Cata Coll tipped over the crossbar, and veteran Scot Kim Little slammed high over the bar.
Leah Williamson, who had a good fight with Polish striker Ewa Pajor and did well to stop her run as she surged into the box from the left, did Arsenal’s best.
Arsenal lacked Mariona Caldentey, a former Catalan giant, in midfield, while Alexia Putellas, another Barcelona star with two Ballon d’or victories, was kept quiet.
Romeu’s side has been criticized this season because they lack some of the shine from the team that won the quadruple last year, and their first-half display against Arsenal was not one of the dominant ones in recent years.
In the second half, they showed more motivation, and Van Domselaar was forced to miss a deflected shot that was typical of the competition’s top scorer Pina, who was unable to cross the bar.
WE HAVE PERFORMED IT! EVER AGAIN, WE ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS. twitter.com/Vta5nhZrA4
famous victory
It was no surprise Barca started to score in the first two rounds by passing Wolfsburg and then Chelsea, who had already scored eight goals in the previous two. Ona Batlle fired narrowly wide of the penalty spot.
As Barcelona climbed into a higher gear, Van Domselaar denied Bonmati at the near post, and Batlle’s strike was only passably over.
Arsenal had a fantastic chance to take the lead, breaking away from their own half.
Blackstenius bundled her way through, but Coll brilliantly blocked her low effort with her leg after Mapi Leon made some slack defending.
The English side took the lead a few minutes later than Barcelona, who did not follow the warning.
With 15 minutes left, Swedish striker Blackstenius drilled through Batlle’s legs into the bottom far corner with a clever reverse pass from Beth Mead.
Arsenal, who defeated them in their first ever European match in 2012, won the Catalans’ 100th game to claim the trophy, but the anticipated Barcelona assault never arrived in the final stages.
Source: Channels TV
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