Barça's 3-in-a-row dream ends as Arsenal win Champions League final in Lisbon

Arsenal earned a shock 1-0 victory over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Women's Champions League final to bring an end to the Catalans' 3-in-a-row dream. 

Stina Blacksteniusas' strike on 74 minutes proved the difference between the two sides in Lisbon, the Swede cooly finishing past Barça goalkeeper Cata Coll. 

Barça Femení were firm favorites before kick-off to retain their Champions League crown for the third consecutive season, playing in their sixth final in seven years. 

But it was Arsenal who celebrated their second European triumph at the final whistle after a hard-fought victory.

They resolutely withstood everything Barça threw at them, before stunning the blaugrana with a winner with just over 15 minutes to go.

Not even Aitana Bonmatí, once again Barça's best player on the night, could find the moment of magic to get the Catalans back into the game.

Fans' agony 

Tens of thousands of culers traveled to the Portuguese capital for the fixture, which sold out the 50,000 capacity Estádio José Alvalade. 

In Barcelona's Parc de les Glòries hundreds of fans gathered to watch the final on a giant screen.

The atmosphere was lively at the start of the second half but the mood dropped when Blacksteniusas' goal put Arsenal ahead. 

While the Barça players will be disappointed with the result, one former teammate did get did get to celebrate three Champions League titles in a row – Mariona Caldentey left Barcelona last summer for Arsenal.

League and cup double remains on

The 2024-25 season has still been a success – Barça Femení claimed their sixth consecutive league earlier this month – but the standards this team has set are so high that any defeat hurts.

Now they must dust themselves down for the Copa de la Reina final against Atletico Madrid in two weeks, on June 7, at the Estadio El Alcoraz in Huesca.