Barcelona looks to retain the Women’s Champions League title for the third consecutive year as they face second-trophy-seeking Arsenal in the 2024/25 final at Lisbon.
ARS-W vs BAR-W Match Details
Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025
Time: 18:00 (CET), 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
ARS-W vs BAR-W Match Preview
The 2007 Women’s Champions League winners and the only English team to have lifted the trophy in the competition's history, Arsenal are looking to create another special moment by ending the dominance of Barcelona in the 2024/25 edition final and adding to their record high 52 trophies tally. Despite finishing as runners-up in the Women’s Super League and failing in the cup competitions, the Gunners have scraped through Europe, requiring comeback dramas against Real Madrid and last season’s finalists Lyon, after topping their group ahead of Bayern Munich and Juventus, making it a remarkable campaign so far. This is the only chance for Renee Slegers's side to win any trophy this season, having made it this far in the competition after 18 years, they will be determined not to endure more disappointments. However, it is easier said than done facing such a well-oiled machine that has won three titles in the last four seasons, including back-to-back fashion and reached the showpiece six times with five consecutively. Barcelona’s scintillating attack, which has produced 44 goals in just 10 games, will be a major worry for the North Londoners. Arsenal not only conceded the most goals among teams qualified for the knockout, but let in 13 goals in their last three matches across all competitions, forcing the team to patch up the defence ahead of their most important game in the current era.
That flurry of goals has come from the boots of Ewa Pajor, who joined last summer, as well as the golden boot chaser, Claudia Pina, who is enjoying the best scoring return of her career. That mentality of causing devastation with their brand of attacking football and habit of winning the top European prize each time has made Barcelona favourites to complete a three-peat and win a fourth title, something only managed by Lyon before in the competition’s history. The Catalan giants beat the French giant in last season’s final to clear their long hoodoo of heartbreak against them, having made a 3-2 comeback win against Wolfsburg to lift their second Champions League title in 2023. Despite starting the season with a loss to Manchester City, Pere Romeu's side regathered themselves and finished above them in the group stage on goal difference before demolishing Wolfsburg and Chelsea in the knockouts to reach the showpiece. Having claimed a sixth consecutive league title and the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona are in the mood to complete the quadruple with the Copa de la Reina final against Atletico Madrid coming next month as the final game of their season. With nine wins in the competition and ten straight victories since late March, the side is full of confidence to add more glory to their ever-growing trophy cabinet. That is boosted by the fact that they scored four goals against their opposition in the final in the past two meetings in the competition.
ARS-W vs BAR-W Recent Form (all competitions)
ARS-W: LWLLW
BAR-W: WWWWW
ARS-W vs BAR-W Recent Form (Europa League)
ARS-W: WLWLW
BAR-W: WWWWW
ARS-W vs BAR-W Team News
Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is doubtful for Arsenal after missing the last three matches due to injury. That means Manuela Zinsberger will retain her place in between the posts. Defender Katie Reid and forward Lina Hurtig are out with injuries. Mariona Caldentey, winner of three titles with Barcelona, will partner Frida Maanum and Kim Little in the midfield for the Gunners. Meanwhile, Kika Nazareth remains the only absentee for Barcelona after suffering an ankle injury in March in an otherwise fit squad.
ARS-W vs BAR-W Predicted Lineups
Arsenal
Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Maanum, Little, Caldentey; Foord, Russo, Kelly
Barcelona
Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Brugts; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina
ARS-W vs BAR-W Dream11 Match Prediction
Arsenal will take motivation from their turnaround victories in the knockout stage and previous title-winning experience to cause a big shock here, but Barcelona’s sheer quality, unstoppable frontline and the mentality to dominate the competition is unlikely to cease at Lisbon. We predict a 3-1 win for the Blaugranas.
ARS-W vs BAR-W Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Claudia Pina
Vice-captain Picks: Ewa Pajor, Aitana Bonmati
Claudia Pina is the top goal-scorer in the Women’s Champions League this season with 10 goals in eight matches, including five in the knockouts. She has scored 22 goals in 40 games in all competitions this term.
Ewa Pajor is the second-highest scorer in the competition, alongside Arsenal pair Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey. However, the Polish striker has registered more assists with three.
Aitana Bonmati leads the assist chart with five. The midfielder has eight-goal involvement in the competition this season, including in each of the last two finals.
ARS-W vs BAR-W Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Coll (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 190)
DEF: McCabe (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 243), Paredes (Cr - 8, Pts - 255), Brugts (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 333)
MID: Foord (Cr - 8, Pts - 319), Bonmati (Cr - 9, Pts - 448), Putellas (Cr - 9, Pts - 405), Caldentey (Cr - 9, Pts - 620)
FW: Russo (Cr - 9, Pts - 356), Pajor (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 397), Pina (Cr - 8, Pts - 578)
Vice-captain: Ewa Pajor
Captain: Claudia Pina
