Arsenal have secured their second UEFA Women’s Champions League title after a dramatic 1-0 triumph over reigning champions Barcelona in a tightly contested final at Estádio da Luz.
Substitute Stina Blackstenius proved the match-winner, latching onto a sublime through-ball from England winger Beth Mead to slot home in the 75th minute.
The goal stunned the favourites and ended Barcelona’s formidable scoring streak, marking the first time the Catalan giants failed to score in 41 matches.
Despite dominating possession and peppering Arsenal’s goal with chances throughout the first half, Barcelona were left frustrated.
Arsenal had a goal ruled out in the 21st minute when Irene Paredes inadvertently turned Frida Maanum’s cross into her own net — only for VAR to chalk it off for offside.
The Gunners weathered the pressure and made their moment count in the second half. Mead’s vision and Blackstenius’ calm finish sealed a famous victory, silencing the Spanish side’s fans and delivering a performance full of grit and tactical discipline.
Barcelona, who were chasing their fourth title in five years, entered the final as clear favourites after scoring 19 goals in their previous three games and keeping four consecutive clean sheets.
But Arsenal, the only English side to have ever lifted the Women’s Champions League trophy, rose to the occasion with steely determination.
The win marks Arsenal’s first European crown since their 2007 triumph and caps off a sensational debut season for head coach Renee Slegers. Speaking after the match, Slegers praised her team’s composure in “critical, high-pressure moments,” saying they had proved the doubters wrong.
WSL Golden Boot joint-winner Alessia Russo reflected on the team’s mindset, saying, “We believed in this from day one — and tonight we made it real.”
