Advertisement League of Ireland Horse Racing TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture Rugby Weekly Extra Dive into all the news and analysis 3 times a week The Football Family Weekly insights from the week’s big talking points Advertisement More Stories Arsenal's Katie McCabe (left) dribbles past Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen.Alamy Stock Photo FreeUEFA Women's Champions League Katie McCabe's Arsenal beat Barcelona for Champions League glory Stina Blackstenius came off the bench to deliver goal in 1-0 win. 6.57pm, 24 May 2025 Share options ARSENAL PRODUCED A shock 1-0 victory over Barcelona to win the women’s Champions League in Lisbon, with Stina Blackstenius’ goal earning the Gunners their second European crown against the odds. The Swedish striker’s drilled effort in the 74th minute allowed Renee Slegers’ team to dethrone a feted Barcelona side who had won the trophy three times in the previous four seasons. Arsenal, back in the final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2007, outplayed Barca in the first half and staved them off in the second, before Blackstenius struck on the counter-attack. Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe played the full 98 minutes for the Gunners as they overcame the odds for a famous victory that stopped Pere Romeu’s Barca from claiming the trophy for a third consecutive season. Spanish champions Barcelona probed in the opening stages under a fierce Lisbon sun, with Arsenal struggling to track two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s darting movement. Arsenal coach Sleger brought Dutch compatriot Daphne van Domselaar back in goal and she scrambled away crosses to keep her team afloat early on. The Gunners struck midway through the first half when Irene Paredes tried to cut out a cross and diverted the ball into her own net, but it was disallowed for offside against Frida Maanum in the build-up. It rattled the normally composed Catalans and filled Sleger’s team with belief. Maanum came close with a drive which Cata Coll tipped over the crossbar and veteran Scot Kim Little smashed high over the bar when a corner broke invitingly to her. At the back Leah Williamson was at her best for Arsenal, battling well with Polish striker Ewa Pajor and doing well to stifle her run as she surged into the box from the left. Advertisement Arsenal kept Alexia Putellas, another Barcelona star with two Ballon d’or wins, silent, with Mariona Caldentey, formerly of the Catalan giants, superior in midfield. Romeu’s side have faced criticism this season, lacking some of the shine of the team that won the quadruple last year, and their first half display against Arsenal was not one of a team that has dominated European football over the past few years. They came out with more purpose in the second half and a typically slick passing move ended up with the competition’s top scorer Pina’s deflected shot looping up against the crossbar with Van Domselaar frozen in place. Barca put 10 goals past Wolfsburg and then eight past Chelsea in the previous two rounds so it was no surprise they began to click going forward, with Ona Batlle firing narrowly wide. Van Domselaar denied Bonmati at the near post as Barcelona clicked into a higher gear, and Batlle whistled a strike narrowly over. Finally escaping the confines of their own half, Arsenal forged a golden chance to take the lead. Capitalising on some slack defending by Mapi Leon, substitute Blackstenius bundled her way through but Coll brilliantly blocked her low effort with her leg. Barcelona did not heed the warning and a few minutes later the English side took the lead. Beth Mead, another substitute, played a clever reverse pass to Swedish striker Blackstenius, who drilled through Batlle’s legs into the bottom far corner with 15 minutes remaining. The expected Barcelona onslaught never came in the final stages and Arsenal, who defeated them in their first ever European match in 2012, completed a famous victory in the Catalans’ 100th to claim the trophy. – © AFP 2025 View 6 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Katie McCabe's Arsenal beat Barcelona for Champions League glory”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Katie McCabe's Arsenal beat Barcelona for Champions League glory”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. 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