The Women’s Champions League was won by Arsenal after beating defending champions Barcelona 1-0.
In the final of the Saturday match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Stina Blackstenius scored in the 75th minute after being set up by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead.
18 years ago, Arsenal won the title of best English club in women’s football, making it the first and still the only English club to do so.
The Red-and-White corner of the stands, which were otherwise mostly dressed in burgundy and blue, greeted the final whistle and yelled out to celebrate.
Alessia Russo, the striker for Arsenal, told TNT Sports, “We believed from the beginning of our Champions League journey.” We were aware of our capabilities. We were aware of our potential. It was simply about doing it. And we succeeded”!
The heavy favorites were made up of Barcelona. They wanted to win a fourth title in five years and make it the only team to have won three titles in a row, excluding Lyon. In the knockout rounds, the team, led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, defeated Chelsea and Wolfsburg in the knockout rounds nine straight.
However, Arsenal created the best chances in defense, with the exception of early in the second half. Frida Maanum and Blackstenius were held scoreless until Blackstenius finally beat her thanks to two outstanding saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll.
The victory seals a remarkable conclusion to a turbulent season for Arsenal, which saw the resignation of assistant Renee Seglers and the resignation of coach Jonas Eidevall.
Seglers has led the team to a spectacular European campaign since taking over. Before laying low on the almighty Barcelona, Arsenal built its self-assurance with come-from-behind victories over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout rounds.
The large crowd of Barcelona supporters who had crowded the stadium where Sporting Lisbon played was greatly depressed by the defeat. Red and white shirts and flags had more red and white shirts and flags than blue and black, but their “Yes we can” calls were louder! The Catalan club’s in the final minutes were unable to elicit a comeback in the final minutes.
Claudia Pina’s shot that struck the crossbar just after halftime, when Barcelona was at its best, was the closest Barcelona could get. Otherwise, Arsenal liked the game.
Before the award ceremony, Bonmati expressed his regret for all of our supporters on the ground. “We’ll make an effort to do it again.”
Arsenal overcame some initial defensive jitters to put Barcelona on the back foot. Barcelona struggled to get their possession game going due to Arsenal’s increased field pressure, and Arsenal found long ball spaces down the left.
Russo, an England striker, was a rock for Arsenal when she used her size to win balls and start the attack.
Arsenal initially had a lead in the 22nd, but a video review found an offside by Frida Maanum by Barcelona’s Irene Paredes and waived an own goal. In the 27th, Maanum then came close with a long shot that Coll did well to stretch and push over her bar.
Before halftime, Bonmat was the only Barcelona player to appear to be moving in the direction. Her defense-focused dribbles through the middle prevented Arsenal from being particularly vulnerable. In the 12th inning, Lee Williamson blocked her best shot from deep inside.
Barcelona exited the restarted with a bang.
In the 49th, Pina fired a chipped shot from a dangerous angle into the woodwork. Ona Batlle launched three long-range shots into the area after Bonmati forced goalie Daphne van Domselaar to parry her shot.
Source: Aljazeera
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