Arsenal v Barcelona: Women's Champions League final preview

15 May 2025, 10:06 | Updated: 23 May 2025, 09:28

Arsenal have arrived in Lisbon to warm up for the Uefa Women's Champions League final against Barcelona this weekend.

Leah Williamson is set to start with the Gunners will be hoping to win their first continental title since 2007.

Renée Slegers, who was part of that Arsenal team, took the reins mid season and has guided the north London giants past Real Madrid and Lyon to reach the Champions League final.

Williamson has credited the Dutch manager for instilling a sense of unity that she hopes will be enough to go one stage further and defeat the Catalan side, who are defending champions.

“One of our greatest strengths since Renée [Slegers] took over is the empowerment, shared responsibility, and accountability within the team,” she told Uefa.

“We are very self-aware; we know what we need to do as individuals across the board. And I am talking from players to background staff — everybody pulls their weight, which I think is really important.

“I think that is why we are in a Champions League final. We have the attributes, we deserve to be here. Our performances have been incredible to get us to this stage.”

Siegers said previously: “I know how much it would mean to the club because it's not only about me. I've just stepped in, I've just been a small part of the journey that the club is on.

“And there's so many people that have been working for such a long time to get the team where they're at now. It's all the facilities, resources, the quality of players, the fan base.”

Here is all you need to know about the final.

How did Arsenal qualify for the final?

Arsenal have travelled a long road to get to the final, starting in the first qualifying round in early September.

Things started badly for Arsenal in Group C, with them being thumped 5-2 at Bayern Munich in their opener, six days after which, in the wake of a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, boss Jonas Eidevall resigned.

But with Renee Slegers taking charge from there, the team won each of their remaining five pool fixtures, defeating Valerenga and Juventus home and away before coming from behind to beat Bayern 3-2 as they claimed top spot.

Slegers’ side took on Real Madrid in the last eight and were 2-0 down after a first leg played at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in wet conditions on a pitch branded a “disgrace” by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

They subsequently turned the tie around back at the Emirates Stadium, where an Alessia Russo brace and Mariona Caldentey goal saw them triumph 3-0, 3-2 on aggregate. Chloe Kelly, signed on loan from Manchester City in January, provided two assists.

Arsenal again produced a second-leg fightback after a first-leg defeat, this time suffered at the Emirates as Lyon, managed by ex-Gunners boss Joe Montemurro, won 2-1 thanks to a late Melchie Dumornay effort.

Slegers saw her team bounce back with a hugely impressive performance in France, ruthlessly punishing their out-of-sorts opponents to triumph 4-1 on the day, 5-3 on aggregate, and set up the clash with Barca.

The tie was level after five minutes via a Christiane Endler own goal, Caldentey put Arsenal in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Russo and Foord added finishes before Dumornay pulled a goal back for the hosts.

Here is all you need to know about the final.

Read also: Eni Aluko 'faces sack' after accusing Ian Wright of blocking female pundits by ‘dominating’ women’s football coverage

When is the Champions League final?

Arsenal are playing Barcelona at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Saturday, May 24.

The kick-off is 5pm BST.

How to watch and where to see the game in the pub

The game is set to be shown in the UK on Discovery+, DAZN UK, and TNT Sports 1.

Arsenal Women are hosting a watch party at the Emirates Stadium. Tickets went on sale at 2pm on Thursday, May 15.

Pubs, especially around London, are also set to show the action if you would like to be in a crowd. Some of the venues can be found on Fanzo (which used to be called Match Punt) here.

Arsenal team and injury news

Arsenal have more or less a full strength squad to choose from.

Defender Katie Reid and forward Lina Hurtig are both doubts.

Alessia Russo has returned from injury in time for the crunch point of the season while first choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is also set to be back in time with Manuela Zinsberger ready to step in if she is not ready.

Victoria Pelova has been a boost for the Gunners having recently come back from a long term anterior cruciate ligament injury.