Arsenal shocked Barcelona by winning the women’s Champions League 1-0 on Saturday in Lisbon, with Stina Blackstenius’ goal giving the Gunners their second European title against the odds.
The Swedish striker’s drilled shot in the 74th minute helped Renee Slegers’ club dethrone a feted Barcelona side that had won the trophy three times in the previous four seasons.
Arsenal, returning to the final for the first time since winning the title in 2007, outplayed Barcelona in the first half and held them off in the second when Blackstenius scored on the counterattack.
The only British Champions League champions demonstrated their mettle in a stunning semi-final victory over record eight-time winners Lyon, preventing Pere Romeu’s Barcelona from winning the cup for the third straight season.
Spanish champions Barcelona probed in the early stages under a scorching Lisbon heat, as Arsenal struggled to track two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s darting movements.
Arsenal coach Sleger summoned in Dutch custodian Daphne van Domselaar, who scooped away crosses to keep her club afloat early on.
The Gunners scored midway through the first half when Irene Paredes attempted to block out a pass and redirected the ball into her own net, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Frida Maanum.
It shook the normally collected Catalans and boosted Sleger’s team’s confidence.
Maanum came close with a drive that Cata Coll turned over the crossbar, and veteran Scot Kim Little blasted high over the bar when a corner fell invitingly to her.
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson was at her best in defence, battling hard with Polish striker Ewa Pajor and stifling her run as she rushed into the box from the left.
Arsenal kept Alexia Putellas, another Barcelona star with two Ballon d’Or awards, quiet, with Mariona Caldentey, a former Catalan giant, dominating in midfield.
Romeu’s squad has received criticism this season for lacking some of the lustre of the team that won the quadruple last year, and their first-half performance against Arsenal was not typical of a team that has dominated European football in recent years.
They came out with more purpose in the second half, and a usually slick passing move resulted in the competition’s leading scorer, Pina’s, deflected shot bouncing up against the crossbar, leaving Van Domselaar frozen in place.
Barcelona had scored ten goals against Wolfsburg and eight against Chelsea in the previous two rounds, so it was no surprise that they started to click going forward, with Ona Batlle hitting narrowly wide.
As Barcelona accelerated, Van Domselaar denied Bonmati at the near post, and Batlle missed a shot narrowly.
Finally exiting their own half, Arsenal created a wonderful opportunity to grab the lead.
Substitute Blackstenius took advantage of Mapi Leon’s sloppy defending and bundled her way through, but Coll expertly denied her low effort with her leg.
Barcelona ignored the warning, and England seized the lead just a few minutes later.
Beth Mead, another substitute, sent a beautiful reverse ball to Swedish striker Blackstenius, who hammered past Batlle’s legs into the bottom far corner with 15 minutes remaining.
The expected Barcelona attack never materialised in the late moments, and Arsenal, who defeated them in their first European encounter in 2012, secured a remarkable triumph in the Catalans’ 100th to win the cup.
