Arsenal Women triumph over Barcelona in historic Champions League final, breaking the British record
Arsenal Women Secure Second UEFA Women's Champions League Title with 1-0 Victory Over Barcelona
Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike clinched Arsenal Women's second UEFA Women's Champions League title, edging out Spanish giants Barcelona 1-0.
The crucial goal came after Irene Paredes' own-goal was disallowed for offside during the first half. Substitute Blackstenius, making an immediate impact, delivered a composed finish from inside the Barcelona box.
Rehanne Skinner, West Ham head coach on talkSPORT, hailed the goal as "an unbelievable finish." She highlighted the patience the Gunners displayed before a reversal from Beth Mead set up Blackstenius for the decisive strike.
With this victory, Arsenal now equals the number of titles held by Wolfsburg, Umeå, and Turbine Potsdam, while Lyon remains the undisputed leader with eight titles.
Arsenal is now the only British club to have won the UEFA Women's Champions League, breaking a 100-year-old curse previously held by Sheffield United in the Premier League. Despite losing out on the Women's Super League to unbeaten champions Chelsea by 12 points, Arsenal shown their pedigree with a third consecutive season of silverware, following League Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2024.
Alessia Russo, Arsenal star, shared her joy after the match: "We worked so hard, and it just feels amazing. We had to suffer a lot, but we knew we could win, and it was just about going out and doing it."
Lyon remains the dominant force in the competition, with five consecutive titles between 2015 and 2020. Barcelona, in their pursuit of Lyon, recently claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, making them a formidable challenge in the future.
- The manager of Arsenal Women, Rehanne Skinner, praised the 'unbelievable finish' scored by Stina Blackstenius in the UEFA Women's Champions League final against Barcelona.
- Arsenal's victory in the UEFA Women's Champions League has equaled the number of titles held by Wolfsburg, Umeå, and Turbine Potsdam, making them one of the most decorated teams in the European leagues.
- Despite losing the Premier League to unbeaten champions Chelsea, Arsenal's success in the UEFA Women's Champions League showcases their pedigree in sports, having won a third consecutive season of silverware in football tournaments like the League Cup in 2023 and 2024.
- The only British club to have won the UEFA Women's Champions League title to date is Arsenal, breaking a 100-year-old curse previously held by Sheffield United in the Premier League.
- Barcelona, although unsuccessful in the UEFA Women's Champions League final, have emerged as a formidable challenge in future European football competitions, having claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, along with Lyon, who remains the dominating force in the competition with five consecutive titles between 2015 and 2020.
