Arsenal beat holders Barcelona 1-0 in the Women’s Champions League final at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.
0n 18 minutes, Alessia Russo saved Daphne van Domselaar’s blushes, clearing the ball away after the goalkeeper had misjudged the ball’s flight.
The Gunners would have taken the lead before the half-hour mark when Barcelona defender Irene Paredes diverted Frida Maanum’s low cross into her own net.
However, an offside check showed that Maanum had gone too early when collecting the ball, keeping the scores goalless.
Goalkeeper Catalina Coll made a brilliant save to deny Maanum from giving Arsenal the lead in the 29 minutes, tipping the midfielder’s effort over the top.
After the half-hour mark, van Domselaar made a brilliant save to deny Bonmati from putting Barca ahead.
The Spanish champions started the second half strongly, with Claudia Pina’s effort deflected off the woodwork.
Full-back Ona Batlle nearly gave Barcelona the lead in the 54th minute as her effort whistled just past the post.
Just after the hour mark, van Domselaar parried Bonmati’s strike behind for a corner. The set piece fell to Batlle, who shot narrowly off the crossbar.
Defender Steph Catley made a brilliant sliding clearance in the 70th minute after Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo delivered a dangerous cross into the box.
Three minutes later, Arsenal created their first real chance of the second half when substitute Stina Blackstenius almost found the bottom corner but was denied by Coll’s leg.
Blackstenius gave the Gunners the lead on 74 minutes, putting a low shot past Coll after collecting a reverse pass from fellow substitute Beth Mead.
Arsenal held on to their one-goal advantage to lift the trophy for the first time since 2007 and for the second time in the club’s history.
