LISBON, Portugal — Barcelona is on the cusp of securing its third consecutive Women’s Champions League title, aiming for a fourth crown in five years as it faces Arsenal in the grand finale in Lisbon on Saturday.
The Catalan giants are striving to solidify their preeminent position in European women’s soccer, particularly after breaking Lyon’s dominance last year to defend their title. Led by midfield maestros and Ballon d’Or recipients Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, along with other stars from Spain’s triumphant 2023 World Cup team, Barcelona’s possession-centric and goal-laden attack stands unrivaled.
The match at the 50,000-seat Estádio José Alvalade marks Barcelona’s sixth Champions League final in the last seven seasons and its record-equaling fifth consecutive appearance. With a victory, Barcelona would join Lyon as the only other team to win the European Cup three years in a row.
On the opposing side, Arsenal hopes to overturn expectations, acting as this season’s upset specialists, as it seeks to clinch a second European title.
“They’re an exceptional team with a well-documented history,” Arsenal defender Leah Williamson acknowledged about Barcelona leading up to the final. “We have immense respect for them, but it’s a final, and it’s anyone’s game.”
Barcelona’s strategic artillery is orchestrated by first-year coach Pere Romeu, whose team showcases a multi-dimensional offensive prowess.
Barcelona dominates major attacking metrics, boasting the most goals at 44 compared to Arsenal’s 25, and leading in areas like possession, pass accuracy, and shooting attempts. Forward Claudia Pina tops the goal-scoring chart with 10, surpassing Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, each with seven goals. Bonmatí and Patri Guijarro head the assists leaderboard with five each.
Adding to their arsenal, Barcelona signed Poland’s striker Ewa Pajor in the offseason, who became the Spanish league’s top scorer with 23 goals. Pajor, aged 28, is hungry for her inaugural European title after facing four final defeats with Wolfsburg, including a 2023 loss to Barcelona.
“The final hinges on minute details that we can prepare for beforehand,” Pajor shared. “Having played in four finals, I’ve learned that you need to be present and focused from the first minute to the last.”
While Barcelona has clinched its sixth straight Liga F title and advanced to the Copa de la Reina final, its vulnerabilities have surfaced.
The team’s remarkable home unbeaten streak in Liga F ended at 64 games, and for the first time, they succumbed to arch-rivals Real Madrid. Moreover, the Champions League campaign commenced with an unusual group stage loss to Manchester City.
“We’ve experienced more defeats than we’re accustomed to, some more painful than others,” noted Barcelona forward Caroline Graham, reflecting on the loss to City. “That match fueled skepticism about our Champions League prospects, motivating us to prove we remain formidable contenders.”
Arsenal, still the sole English team to triumph in UEFA’s Women’s Cup back in 2007, stands ready to play the challenger.
Despite being the underdogs, Arsenal is no stranger to staging thrilling comebacks. They overcame a deficit against Madrid in the quarterfinals and subsequently stunned eight-time champions Lyon in the semifinals, rebounding from a 2-1 home loss with an emphatic 4-1 victory on French soil.
This final serves as Arsenal’s sole opportunity to secure silverware this season, having finished second behind Chelsea in the Women’s Super League and failing to make it to the FA Cup or League Cup finals.
“We’ve persevered through numerous trials and setbacks, never losing faith,” Arsenal’s coach Renée Slegers remarked. “Such resilience has been pivotal for us, allowing us to achieve extraordinary feats.”