Arsenal ladies stunned Barcelona 1-0 to lift the 2025 Women’s Champions League trophy at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon on Saturday.
Stina Blackstenius fired Arsenal to an historic win against Barcelona in Lisbon; with Claudia Pina hitting the woodwork for Barca in the second half.
Barca dominated the game but were unable to beat the Gunners defence. It is the second time and first since 2007, that Arsenal have won the Women’s Champions League.
Alessia Russo, Arsenal forward told TNT Sports that the team worked hard and that it feels amazing to lift the Champions League.
“We had to suffer a lot, they are a top side. We knew coming into the game we would have to suffer and there would be moments where we wouldn’t have the ball.
“We had to be content and happy with not having the ball knowing our moment would come,” Russo said.
According to her, the Gunners won the game from the bench. “Then when our game changers came on, Stina, Beth, Lina, Lotte, everyone just wanted it so badly. I can’t say enough.”
On beating Barcelona to the trophy, she said the team did what they knew they could do.
“I believed since the moment our Champions League journey started we had the capability. We knew we could be good enough, it was just about going and doing it.”
Fara Williams, former Arsenal midfielder, said the Gunners seserve to win the trophy following their dramatic start to the season where they had to sack their manager and a new manager in charge mid season.
“What an incredible achievement. This group of women here, if you think back to the very first qualifying stage of this tournament to get to the very end and to win and display a performance like they did today is unbelievable,” she said.
According to Williams, the fans have been amazing. She added that the Gunners were outnumbered by Barca.
“Outnumbered by Barcelona by the way but these girls showed up today when it mattered.”
Arsenal will now go directly into the next season’s league phase alongside Chelsea, saving them from a qualifying round that would have been played by virtue of their second-placed WSL finish.
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