Barcelona x Arsenal: Expectations For the Women’s Champions League Final

Breaking down the stats, form, and what’s at stake in the Women’s Champions League finale

(Image Credit to: Maria Ferreira, self designed)

What do we need to know?

This is only the second time Arsenal Women have reached the decisive match, and they did so in a season marked by comebacks in knockout ties against Häcken (qualifiers), Real Madrid, and Lyon (knockout stage). The change in coaching staff brought new energy and the presence of Mariona Caldentey, a former Barcelona player and named Best Player of this edition of the English league, is a major asset for the English side.  

As for Barcelona, winners of the last two editions, they started with a surprising defeat against England’s Manchester City but then showed their class, winning nine consecutive games with 44 goals scored and just five conceded. In the semifinals, they eliminated Chelsea, Arsenal’s city rivals, and are now in their fifth consecutive final (and sixth in the last seven years), arriving in Portugal boosted by their sixth straight league title.

Probable Lineups: 

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Russo

Barcelona: Cata Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Mapi León, Rolfö; Aitana, Patri, Alexia; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina

Players to keep an eye on and why

Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona): She has dominated individual awards in recent years, making it hard to overlook Aitana as a potential game-changer in the final. She has both scored and been named Player of the Match in two decisive games - against Chelsea in 2021 and Lyon in 2024 - and played a crucial role in Barcelona's second-half comeback against Wolfsburg in 2023.

Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona): While Aitana and Alexia Putellas have claimed major awards recently, Norwegian forward Graham Hansen could easily have won those honors too. The winger has featured in all three of Barcelona's Champions League triumphs and combines technical skill, speed and determination.

Emily Fox (Arsenal): How can Arsenal contain Barcelona's fearsome wide threat that conquered the nearly invincible Chelsea? The answer may lie with American right-back Fox, who arrived in London in January 2024 and has enjoyed an outstanding debut Champions League campaign. Could she add her name to the list of Americans who've won UEFA's top club honor, joining Ali Krieger, Gina Lewandowski, Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan and Catarina Macario?

Kim Little (Arsenal): In August 2006, a 16-year-old made her UEFA women's competition debut for Hibernian in a 4-1 loss to Espanyol. Nearly 19 years later, that same player will captain her team against another Barcelona club as Arsenal contest their first final since the 2006/07 season.

Where to watch?

Selected matches are also streamed for free on DAZN’s YouTube channel. The YouTube broadcast will be embedded in UEFA.com’s MatchCentre and on UEFA.tv for select matches, with video highlights available from 11:00 PM (CET) in mainland Portugal.

Written by: Maria Ferreira

Sources used: UEFA official website