Bilbao, Spain — Arsenal Women have reclaimed continental glory, securing their first UEFA Women’s Champions League title since 2007 with a dramatic 1-0 win over tournament favourites Barcelona on Saturday night.
Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius etched her name into club folklore, netting the decisive strike in the 75th minute to crown the Gunners as champions of Europe for the second time in their history.
The shock result ended Barcelona’s quest for a third consecutive title. The Spanish powerhouse, widely regarded as the pinnacle of women’s football, had reached six finals in the past seven seasons and were heavily favoured to win.
Despite entering the final as underdogs, Arsenal displayed grit, tactical awareness, and unwavering defensive organisation. Barcelona dominated proceedings, registering 20 attempts on goal and 12 corners, but failed to find a breakthrough. Arsenal, meanwhile, made the most of their eight shots, delivering a masterclass in efficiency.
A tense first half saw a brief moment of hope for Arsenal when Irene Paredes inadvertently put the ball into her own net. However, VAR intervention ruled the goal out due to an offside in the buildup involving Frida Maanum.
Moments after narrowly missing a chance, Blackstenius capitalised on her second opportunity, sending a composed finish past the Barça goalkeeper and igniting jubilant scenes among the 5,000 travelling Arsenal fans.
Renée Slegers, in only her second season as Arsenal manager, made history as the first woman to guide the North London club to a European title.
The triumph marks a fairytale conclusion to a resilient European campaign, which also saw Arsenal overturn a first-leg deficit against Lyon in the semifinals.
Saturday’s victory not only rewrites Arsenal’s history but also sends a powerful message across the landscape of European women’s football — the Gunners are back among the elite.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | May 25, 2025
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