Unfamiliar territory, same aim

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. With regards to Barcelona Femení and Arsenal Women, who will be facing off in the 2025 edition of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final on May 24th, history is hard to remember when there hardly exists any.

The rumours are true. Between these two European powerhouses of football clubs, with the men’s teams having been around for decades before the women’s teams were founded, Barcelona Femení and Arsenal Women have only contended against each other five times past. It is quite difficult when both clubs are based in different European domestic leagues as the skill level, development, infrastructure and competition varies from country to country.

Unsurprisingly, Barcelona Femení have been the presiding monarchs of Spain for several years now, along with showcasing sheer power and influence over continental challengers. On the other hand, Arsenal Women are currently not at the top of their league, faltering behind Chelsea FC (whom Barcelona defeated in the semi-final) and not having claimed a league title since the 2018-19 season. Namesakes that will be familiar to even casual women’s football fans include the likes of England captain Leah Williamson, Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly, Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, also not to forget former Culers Mariona Caldentey and Laia Codina.

Arsenal’s route to the final was by no means easy, clearing the path of 8x UEFA Women’s Champions league title holders Olympique Lyonnais (OL), Barcelona’s foe Real Madrid, German domestic champions FC Bayern Munich, and now Barcelona Femení. The last meeting between these two was back in 2021, where Barça showed no mercy to eliminate the pride of North London (Arsenal’s nickname) in a 4-0 thrashing to wash their trophy hopes away. This time around, different circumstances warrant any outcome for the taking. Only in 2012 did Arsenal defeat the infallible. To put that into context, in 2012, midfielder Vicky López was only 6 years old (Born 2006).

With a solid defensive backline consisting of Irene Paredes and Maria “Mapi” León to hopefully hold back Arsenal’s ferocious strikers, Femení surely won’t go down without a a fight. The most goal contributions this UEFA Women’s Champions League tournament have been from Barcelona’s Claudia Pina, scoring 10 goals in 8 games followed by Ewa Pajor with 7 goals in 10 games. Reliable midfielders Patri Guijarro and Esmee Brugts will make sure to retain possession of the ball to feed to the forwards. There are always options on the bench, as substitutes are more modernly known as “game changers”. The expectancy of Barça fans to travel to Lisbon, Portugal is likely to be a grand turnout. Arsenal’s fanbase consists of 2 million Instagram followers, sold-out stadiums of 50,000+, but can they bring the heat?

All will be revealed on the day of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, Saturday May 24th.