Arsenal Gun Down Barcelona To Win Women’s Champions League

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.

On May 24, 2025, during the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC, Swedish striker #25 Stina Blackstenius celebrates with her teammates at the Lisbon Jose Alvalade stadium. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP)

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.

After winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC on May 24, 2025, at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, the players pose for pictures with their medals and trophy. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP)

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.

famous victory 

At the conclusion of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC at the Lisbon Jose Alvalade stadium on May 24, 2025, officials greet the players and present their medal to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. (Photo by Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP)

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.

Arsenal Gun Down Barcelona To Win Women’s Champions League

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.

On May 24, 2025, during the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC, Swedish striker #25 Stina Blackstenius celebrates with her teammates at the Lisbon Jose Alvalade stadium. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP)

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.

After winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC on May 24, 2025, at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, the players pose for pictures with their medals and trophy. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP)

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.

famous victory 

At the conclusion of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football game between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC at the Lisbon Jose Alvalade stadium on May 24, 2025, officials greet the players and present their medal to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. (Photo by Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP)

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.

Arsenal Gun Down Barcelona To Win Women’s Champions League

Arsenal produced a shock 1-0 victory over Barcelona to win the women’s Champions League on Saturday in Lisbon, with Stina Blackstenius’ goal earning the Gunners their second European crown against the odds.

The Swedish striker’s drilled effort in the 74th minute allowed Renee Slegers’ team to dethrone a feted Barcelona side who had won the trophy three times in the previous four seasons.

Arsenal, back in the final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2007, outplayed Barca in the first half and staved them off in the second, before Blackstenius struck on the counter-attack.

Arsenal’s Swedish striker #25 Stina Blackstenius celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP)

The only British Champions League winners showed their mettle in a superb victory over record eight-time winners Lyon in the semi-final and they stopped Pere Romeu’s Barca from claiming the trophy for a third consecutive season.

Spanish champions Barcelona probed in the opening stages under a fierce Lisbon sun, with Arsenal struggling to track two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s darting movement.

Arsenal coach Sleger brought Dutch compatriot Daphne van Domselaar back in goal and she scrambled away crosses to keep her team afloat early on.

The Gunners struck midway through the first half when Irene Paredes tried to cut out a cross and diverted the ball into her own net, but it was disallowed for offside against Frida Maanum in the build-up.

It rattled the normally composed Catalans and filled Sleger’s team with belief.

READ ALSO: Five Dramatic CAF Champions League Finals

Arsenal’s players pose for pictures with their medals and the trophy after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP)

Maanum came close with a drive which Cata Coll tipped over the crossbar and veteran Scot Kim Little smashed high over the bar when a corner broke invitingly to her.

At the back Leah Williamson was at her best for Arsenal, battling well with Polish striker Ewa Pajor and doing well to stifle her run as she surged into the box from the left.

Arsenal kept Alexia Putellas, another Barcelona star with two Ballon d’or wins, silent, with Mariona Caldentey, formerly of the Catalan giants, superior in midfield.

Romeu’s side have faced criticism this season, lacking some of the shine of the team that won the quadruple last year, and their first half display against Arsenal was not one of a team that has dominated European football over the past few years.

They came out with more purpose in the second half and a typically slick passing move ended up with the competition’s top scorer Pina’s deflected shot looping up against the crossbar with Van Domselaar frozen in place.

Famous victory 

Barcelona’s players are greeted by officials and receive their medal fron UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin at the end of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Barca put 10 goals past Wolfsburg and then eight past Chelsea in the previous two rounds so it was no surprise they began to click going forward, with Ona Batlle firing narrowly wide.

Van Domselaar denied Bonmati at the near post as Barcelona clicked into a higher gear, and Batlle whistled a strike narrowly over.

Finally escaping the confines of their own half, Arsenal forged a golden chance to take the lead.

Capitalising on some slack defending by Mapi Leon, substitute Blackstenius bundled her way through but Coll brilliantly blocked her low effort with her leg.

Barcelona did not heed the warning and a few minutes later the English side took the lead.

Beth Mead, another substitute, played a clever reverse pass to Swedish striker Blackstenius, who drilled through Batlle’s legs into the bottom far corner with 15 minutes remaining.

The expected Barcelona onslaught never came in the final stages and Arsenal, who defeated them in their first ever European match in 2012, completed a famous victory in the Catalans’ 100th to claim the trophy.

Arsenal Gun Down Barcelona To Win Women’s Champions League

Arsenal produced a shock 1-0 victory over Barcelona to win the women’s Champions League on Saturday in Lisbon, with Stina Blackstenius’ goal earning the Gunners their second European crown against the odds.

The Swedish striker’s drilled effort in the 74th minute allowed Renee Slegers’ team to dethrone a feted Barcelona side who had won the trophy three times in the previous four seasons.

Arsenal, back in the final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2007, outplayed Barca in the first half and staved them off in the second, before Blackstenius struck on the counter-attack.

Arsenal’s Swedish striker #25 Stina Blackstenius celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP)

The only British Champions League winners showed their mettle in a superb victory over record eight-time winners Lyon in the semi-final and they stopped Pere Romeu’s Barca from claiming the trophy for a third consecutive season.

Spanish champions Barcelona probed in the opening stages under a fierce Lisbon sun, with Arsenal struggling to track two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s darting movement.

Arsenal coach Sleger brought Dutch compatriot Daphne van Domselaar back in goal and she scrambled away crosses to keep her team afloat early on.

The Gunners struck midway through the first half when Irene Paredes tried to cut out a cross and diverted the ball into her own net, but it was disallowed for offside against Frida Maanum in the build-up.

It rattled the normally composed Catalans and filled Sleger’s team with belief.

READ ALSO: Five Dramatic CAF Champions League Finals

Arsenal’s players pose for pictures with their medals and the trophy after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP)

Maanum came close with a drive which Cata Coll tipped over the crossbar and veteran Scot Kim Little smashed high over the bar when a corner broke invitingly to her.

At the back Leah Williamson was at her best for Arsenal, battling well with Polish striker Ewa Pajor and doing well to stifle her run as she surged into the box from the left.

Arsenal kept Alexia Putellas, another Barcelona star with two Ballon d’or wins, silent, with Mariona Caldentey, formerly of the Catalan giants, superior in midfield.

Romeu’s side have faced criticism this season, lacking some of the shine of the team that won the quadruple last year, and their first half display against Arsenal was not one of a team that has dominated European football over the past few years.

They came out with more purpose in the second half and a typically slick passing move ended up with the competition’s top scorer Pina’s deflected shot looping up against the crossbar with Van Domselaar frozen in place.

Famous victory 

Barcelona’s players are greeted by officials and receive their medal fron UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin at the end of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final football match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Barca put 10 goals past Wolfsburg and then eight past Chelsea in the previous two rounds so it was no surprise they began to click going forward, with Ona Batlle firing narrowly wide.

Van Domselaar denied Bonmati at the near post as Barcelona clicked into a higher gear, and Batlle whistled a strike narrowly over.

Finally escaping the confines of their own half, Arsenal forged a golden chance to take the lead.

Capitalising on some slack defending by Mapi Leon, substitute Blackstenius bundled her way through but Coll brilliantly blocked her low effort with her leg.

Barcelona did not heed the warning and a few minutes later the English side took the lead.

Beth Mead, another substitute, played a clever reverse pass to Swedish striker Blackstenius, who drilled through Batlle’s legs into the bottom far corner with 15 minutes remaining.

The expected Barcelona onslaught never came in the final stages and Arsenal, who defeated them in their first ever European match in 2012, completed a famous victory in the Catalans’ 100th to claim the trophy.

CAF Champions League: Pyramids Stun Mamelodi Sundowns With Late Equaliser

In the CAF Champions League final first leg, Wili el Karti scored the equalizer in stoppage time to give South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

In the 94th minute, El Karti stunned a sold-out crowd of 50, 000 at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria by nodding a long cross past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at the far post.

After 54 minutes, Sundowns’ Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro put an end to a 1, 080-minute Champions League goal drought by scoring from close range on the second try.

On May 24, 2025, the CAF Champions League trophy is displayed during the first leg of the Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Pyramids Football Club’s first game of the competition at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)

Goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy parried his first shot, but the keeper made no mistake when he made a second mistake and slammed the ball into the top of the net.

On June 1, the teams square off in Cairo, with Sundowns and Pyramids competing for the first time to win the most prestigious African club competition.

On May 24, 2025, the first leg of the CAF Champions League final football game between the Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids Football Club takes place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Egypt’s #31 Ahmed Atef fights for the ball under the sundowns’ #6 South African defender Aubrey Modiba. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)

Pyramids also defeated Sundowns in the group stage of the previous Champions League, and the team won the match in Cairo thanks to a Teboho Mokoena goal.

We dropped too far back, according to Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who was unhappy with the performance of the Sundowns in the final ten minutes.

“We can score in Cairo and win the return match there,” he said, “but conceding so late is obviously disappointing.”

We must combat this in the second leg because the Pyramids’ midfielders were very aggressive.

The coach, who lost the previous Champions League final to Tunisian Esperance, said, “I’m not making excuses, but the pitch was very slippery and did not suit our style.

Krunoslav Jurcic, the former Croatian international, pleaded with Egyptian football supporters to watch the return game on Sunday.

Moroccan defender #15 Mohamed Chibi (L) and Sundowns #9 Arthur Sales (R) battle for the ball during the first leg of the CAF Champions League final football game between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids Football Club on May 24, 2025 at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)

Only a small number of spectators cheered the Cairo outfit on in a 30, 000-seat stadium when they defeated another South African team, the Orlando Pirates, at home in the semi-finals.

“Stop by the stadium and support us,” We are promoting all of Egypt. Your support may be a big factor, Jurcic said.

“This final is not over yet, but we had energy today and knew about Sundowns.” In the final Champions League game, Sundowns defeated us in Cairo.

On May 24, 2025, the CAF Champions League trophy is displayed during the first leg of the Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Pyramids Football Club’s first game of the competition at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)

Sundowns have made 17 previous appearances, including a victory over Zamalek of Egypt in the 2016 title decider, while Pyramids are only playing in the Champions League for the second time.

Sundowns will shift their attention to Group F’s Club World Cup in the United States, where they face Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, and South Korean side Ulsan.

Alleged Budget Padding: Opposition In Nigeria Performing With Spectacular Lack of Capacity — Analyst

Professor Okey Ikechukwu, the executive director of the Development Specs Academy, has criticised the country’s opposition political parties’ performance.

Ikechukwu described the opposition as “performing with spectacular lack of capacity” during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise&nbsp on Saturday.

The alleged unlawful insertion of projects into the 2025 budget was the subject of a non-governmental group called BudgIT.

‘Nigeria A Scene Of Corruption’, Obi On Alleged N7tn Budget Padding, and other READ ALSO:

The National Assembly inserted 11, 122 projects valued at $6.93 trillion into the 2025 Federal Government budget, according to a statement signed by a senior communications officer, Nancy Odimegwu, on Tuesday.

Okechukwu lamented, however, that the opposition’s budgetary assessment fell short of what it was supposed to.

He added, “This country’s political opposition has been performing without a disconcerting degree.” They publish press releases to make fun of something.

You will gather the data, employ professionals or consultants, address the country, and address the state-of-the-nation in a state-of-the-nation address.
“And the people who serve them put together national resources for the year 2024 in their name and for the people.” This hasn’t been put into practice out of that many.

What BudgIT is currently hearing from the opposition, civil society organizations, concerned citizens, etc.

The public affairs analyst, however, advocated for better collaboration between media and civil society organizations to promote accountability by government institutions.

Have we asked ourselves whether the typical Nigerian is aware of the existence of a budget, whether he will feel bad about it if there is one, or whether anyone will express serious grievances if they don’t make one for the next three years? Therefore, he continued, “There are so many things that need to be clarified,” which are not occurring.

He added that the budget’s alleged inclusion was in theory unlawful.