The UEFA Girls’s Champions League last might be a conflict between underdogs and titans. Present title holder, FC Barcelona, will face Arsenal within the championship last on Saturday. The 2 sides will compete for Europe’s largest prize at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal.
Barcelona have dominated the competitors lately and are competing of their sixth UWCL last in seven years. They’ve earned infinite reward as one of the best membership on the planet primarily based on their constant aggressive performances each collectively and individually. Led by two-time Greatest FIFA Girls’s Participant and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, they’re thought-about heavy favorites by odds makers to win as soon as once more.
Arsenal’s Champions League journey has taken many twists and turns, and all through the highs and lows, the Gunners have lastly returned to the ultimate for the primary time since their 2007 title win. The group has turned a nook after a training change with Renee Slegers, and prime abilities in Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo. Each gamers are tied for second in objectives scored (eight) throughout the event.
Listed here are storylines, how one can watch the match and extra:
How you can watch and odds
- Date: Sat. Might, 24 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Estádio José Alvalade — Lisbon, Portugal
- Reside stream: DAZN
- Odds: Arsenal +914; Draw +522; -455
Path to the ultimate
Arsenal: The London facet will play its fifteenth recreation once they step into the ultimate, probably the most of any crew throughout the competitors, relationship again to Spherical 2 qualifying play forward of the group stage. They completed prime of the group, regardless of getting examined by Bayern Munich on the ultimate matchday with a 5-2 loss.
All through the knockout part, they developed their comeback persona, rallying throughout second-leg fixtures towards Actual Madrid, and later, a historic semifinal towards UWCL eight-time winners Olympique Lyon. Dealing with a 2-1 loss throughout the first leg, Arsenal delivered a defiant 4-1 victory on the street at Parc Olympique Lyonnais to stake their place within the Champions League last.
Barcelona: The Catalonians suffered one loss of their group stage, a 2-0 defeat towards Manchester Metropolis of their event opener, and have rolled over remaining opponents ever since. Degree on 15 factors with Manchester Metropolis, Barcelona finally received the group on objective differential with +23 objectives for a event finest.
Barcelona have since dominated objective scoring all through the knockout part. They triumphed 10-2 towards VfL Wolfsburg throughout the quarterfinal, and eclipsed Chelsea FC 8-2 within the semifinals on their option to one other Champions League last look.
What Arsenal are saying
Arsenal are coming off a second-place end within the Girls’s Tremendous League that concluded on Might 10. The squad has had a while away from the pitch within the build-up to the championship last, and Arsenal defender Steph Cately sat down with CBS Sports activities Attacking Third to debate the upcoming match.
“We have truly had two weeks of prep. We have had no recreation, and for a season so long as we have had, we have been taking part in a number of video games every week, largely. So it has been a bit unusual, however it’s been additionally an ideal reset, as a result of it has been a protracted season, and a whole lot of us have performed a whole lot of minutes, so it has been good. We have had a bit block the place we had a few days off, after which we got here again in and we have been refreshed and able to put our heads down and get coaching,” Catley stated on Arsenal’s two weeks main as much as the UWCL last.
“We have had final week, a extremely powerful week of coaching the place we actually pushed ourselves bodily, after which this week has been mentally difficult in the way in which that we have ready for the sport in a tactical sense. So it has been busy, however very efficient. And now we’re getting near the sport. I really feel like we have been 100% prepared, and we all know precisely what we need to do. And now it is nearly, having our final coaching session and getting some power, after which simply being prepared for the sport. So we’re all very excited.”
What Barcelona are saying
Supervisor Pere Romeu is in his first UWCL last with Barcelona because the official head coach. He took over final 12 months after the departure of Jonatan Giraldez, and the Catalonian machine is again within the last for a shot at their fourth Champions League title.
“After I get pleasure from [being a coach] probably the most is once I sit in my workplace and watch [the next opponents], watch a whole lot of Arsenal video games, see what Arsenal do, see who their most vital gamers are, how we’re going to put together for it, how we’re going to prepare, what we suggest,” he stated.
“Once we do all that is once I really feel extra calm, extra assured and extra satisfied. From this second on, when the sport is getting nearer, that is whenever you begin to get nervous.”
Predicted lineups
FC Barcelona: Cata Coll; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Mapi León, Fridolina Rolfö; Aitana Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas; Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina
Arsenal: Manuela Zinsberger; Emily Fox, Williamson, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe; Frida Maanum, Kim Little, Mariona Caldentey; Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead
Participant to look at
Emily Fox, Arsenal: The U.S. girls’s nationwide crew defender joined Arsenal in January 2024 and have become an immediate starter for the squad. The correct-back has been a vital element on the backline, monitoring down scoring threats, and getting ahead in assault for the Gunners. She had a number of spotlight moments all through the Champions League season, together with Arsenal’s huge comeback win at Lyon.
Leah Williamson, Arsenal: The 28-year-old has spent her complete membership profession with Arsenal, the place she made her senior debut in 2014. She’s received a WSL title, two FA Cups, and even wore the captain’s armband throughout England’s 2022 UEFA Girls’s Euro title run. Now she’s acquired her eyes on the elusive Champions League trophy.
Caroline Graham Hansen, Barcelona: The winger has been an integral a part of all three of Barcelona’s Champions League victories. Whereas different Barca teammates have earned particular person awards outdoors of the membership’s on-field success, Graham Hansen has been a direct rival to the single-player accolades. Her pace and tenacity on the ball typically give her a bonus in entrance of objective and open up possibilities for others.
Clàudia Pina, Barcelona: The attacker leads the Champions League season with 10 objectives and is a deadly scoring choice for Barcelona if Romeu desires to make changes for the ultimate. If she’s wholesome, she’ll completely be an choice.
Prediction
Arsenal has lived as much as their underdog standing and can depend on management from Kim Little, who has been on this second for the Gunners earlier than. The group will attempt to make issues stiflingly uncomfortable for Barcelona and can should be scientific once they have possibilities.
Barcelona has proven no indicators of weak point, and their familiarity at this stage of the event might be a bonus. Will it’s Bonmati, Graham Hansen, Putellas, Pajor, Pina, or Parauello to alter up the sport? That there are such a lot of totally different choices for the present title holders is what offers them such a bonus.
Something can occur in a Champions League last, and each groups might be motivated to win the title. Issues would possibly boil all the way down to expertise throughout the bench, and Barcelona has a trove to drag from if the sport requires fast changes. Decide: Barcelona 3, Arsenal 1
Newest information
– Arsenal’s Emily Fox known as as much as Might/June friendlies for USWNT
– Attacking Third interview with Arsenal’s Steph Catley with former Gunner Jen Beattie
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