Stina Blackstenius scored the winner as Arsenal stunned European giants Barcelona to win their first Women's Champions League title in 18 years.

The Sweden international took one touch before firing the ball past goalkeeper Cata Coll from 10 yards after being played in by a superb pass from fellow substitute Beth Mead.

Arsenal had been pitted as underdogs going into the match, with Barcelona having won three of the past four European titles.

The victory reaffirms Arsenal's status as one of Europe's elite, echoing the achievements of those in 2007 when the Gunners enjoyed countless glory days.

Barcelona, boasting two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas in their line-up, have dominated club football in recent years but struggled to make their mark in a pulsating final in Lisbon.

The defending champions were rattled initially when defender Irene Paredes poked the ball into the back of her own net in the first half, only for Frida Maanum to be ruled offside in the build-up after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Further chances came and went for Arsenal with Maanum again causing problems, testing goalkeeper Coll with a fierce effort from the edge of the box.

Captain Kim Little missed a huge chance when she sent her shot sailing over the bar from a corner - doubts beginning to creep in that Arsenal's opportunity was passing them by.

Barcelona began to find more space and Ewa Pajor's cross-shot was deflected onto the crossbar shortly after the break.

Ona Batlle hit a powerful strike from distance and Pajor had efforts inside the box but the Arsenal defence held firm, throwing every part of their bodies in front of goalbound shots and quietening the vociferous Barcelona support in Portugal.

This will go down as one of the greatest nights in Arsenal's illustrious history - and perhaps the first of many successes under manager Renee Slegers' tenure.

Williamson on Arsenal's 'incredible' Champions League triumph over Barcelona

The magnitude of Arsenal's achievements will be felt in days to come but this was a sensational night in Portugal where they showed what they had always promised they were capable of.

They began the season amid fan unrest, with former manager Jonas Eidevall's subsequent resignation, but Slegers ? who initially took over on an interim basis before being named permanent head coach in January ? has taken on the baton in impressive fashion.

She steadied the ship and guided Arsenal through a tricky group stage of the Women's Champions League, before exceeding expectations to lead them to the final.

They have gone on to become the first club to win the Women's Champions League having started the campaign in the first round of qualifying.

She wanted her side to show courage, despite many writing them off in the days before, but surely could not have imagined just how glorious the night would be.

Atmosphere had been building in Lisbon throughout the day with Barcelona fans, following their usual routine.

Thousands of supporters, in blue and red striped shirts, gathered for a march outside Estadio Jose Alvalade hours before kick-off, and they made plenty of noise as their superstars arrived by coach.

They had been here before and were expecting a similar result.

But on the other side of the city, Arsenal supporters were gathering on Pink Street, sporting shirts with Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Little's names on the back, as they went through their songbook.

Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke flew in from Denver and was alongside executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, managing director Richard Garlick and director of women's football Clare Wheatley.

A picture of the noticeboard displaying messages of support sent in by fans at the club's Sobha Realty Training Centre was brought to Lisbon.

And even members of the 2007 Arsenal winning squad were in attendance, many having joined Slegers' team for a lunch this week to reminisce on their special occasion.

They will have been encouraged by Arsenal's first half but frustrated they could not finish any of their chances. In the second half they rode their luck a little but Blackstenius provided the clinical finish when it mattered.

When the full-time whistle went Arsenal's players and staff raced onto the pitch to celebrate. Many collapsed to their knees, others jumped into the arms of others. It was an explosion of pure joy and emotion

European champions again. Defying the odds again. It has been the Arsenal way.

Stina Blackstenius scored seven minutes after coming on as a substitute

Blackstenius has been Arsenal's frustratingly inconsistent wildcard ? a player capable of delivering the biggest moments, and also of squandering them.

She did both in Lisbon but few will remember the missed chance that came moments before delivering the most important goal of her career.

She took the plaudits as players, many in tears, went over to share the moment with their 4,500 travelling Arsenal fans in Lisbon.

Blackstenius had to bide her time, knowing she could be needed off the bench as she so often has been during her Arsenal career.

An extra-time winner against Chelsea clinched the Women's League Cup trophy in 2024 and a late winner against Manchester City in the semi-finals in 2023 are on her highlights reel but none compare to the moment she steadied herself and stroked the ball into the net, past a deflated Coll.

Arsenal have done things the hard way on their route to the final, coming from behind in the quarter-finals to beat Real Madrid and again in the semi-finals, where they knocked out record eight-times winners Lyon, but this was an even greater achievement against one of women's football's most dominant teams.

'Devastated' Barcelona rue missed opportunity

Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas said Barcelona were the favourites going into Saturday's final

Reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati fell to her knees on the pitch, overcome with emotion after the pre-game favourites fell to an unexpected defeat.

She later told TV3 that she was "devastated" by the result and comparing the disappointment to that felt after the 2022 final defeat to Lyon.

"I'm absolutely devastated. I don't believe it. I just want to start the game again and do it differently. But this is football," she said.

"Personally, this hurts me a lot. It's tough. It's hard looking at the stands and seeing all the supporters. It reminds me of Turin (when Bar?a lost their last final)."

The Blaugrana had won three of the past four editions of the competition and were aiming to become just the second team ever to win three consecutive European titles.

Yet it was not meant to be as they failed to get the better of a determined and gritty Arsenal defence.

Fellow two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas told DAZN that the side "did not find our level" and expressed her sadness for the fans that travelled from Spain for the game.

"We have to congratulate Arsenal, they set up well, but we were not at our level, and we couldn't find it.

"It hurts a lot, above all for the fans who did not deserve a final like this." (BBC)

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