Aitana Bonmati says Barcelona have ‘privilege’ of being ‘team to beat’ ahead of UEFA Women's Champions League final v Arsenal
Published 23/05/2025 at 20:22 GMT+1
Aitana Bonmati is unfazed by the outside noise of expectation on this highly-talented Barcelona team. Barca are the favourites to secure their fourth UEFA Women's Champions League crown when they face Arsenal in Lisbon, and Bonmati is ready to get her hands on the biggest prize in continental football once again this weekend. The match is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Aitana Bonmati is relishing heading into the UEFA Women’s Champions League final as the favourites when they face Arsenal on Saturday.
Bonmati will be targeting her fourth victory in the competition when the holders face Renee Slegers’ side in Lisbon – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Barca cruised into the final with an emphatic 8-2 aggregate semi-final victory over Chelsea, and are hotly tipped to overcome The Gunners and win the competition for a fourth time.
The 27-year-old believes those expectations should be seen as a compliment and highlighted the squad’s relentless winning mentality.
"We've had a great season, so we're the team to beat," she told TNT Sports. "For us, it's a privilege, not a pressure. We are used to this and always have the mindset to win.
"One of the best qualities of our team is [that] we have the same ambition as the first day. This is not easy because if you are winning a lot, maybe you can relax, but this is not the case with our team.
"There is no chance of that happening. This is from the standards we set ourselves, and every component from the staff, who has the ambition to keep being the best team, so this makes us unique."
Pere Romeu’s side will be aiming to retain the trophy after overcoming the competition’s most successful team – Lyon – in last year’s final.
After dispatching the French side last year, Bonmati believes that experience can stand her and the team in good stead.
"I think the experience we have now or I have now is even more than when I played the third final of the Champions League, it was the first time against Lyon - the team to beat," she continued.
"Now we are we maybe the team to beat, we have the experience. In these kinds of matches, experience is important because you have lived these kinds of scenarios in other times. This is one thing we have in our team."
The Ballon d'Or Feminin holder highlighted the threats posed by this Arsenal team and explained how the Women’s Super League side can change to a more direct style of play when required.
She continued: "Every team is different and plays in a different way. Arsenal is a team that can start playing a possession-based game, but are also aggressive in the final third.
"This is different to the other teams we have played. They can start with the ball, but then they are so aggressive and offensive when they attack, because they have these players in their frontline."
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This will be Bonmati’s sixth appearance in a Women’s Champions League final, and she admits she will still have the same buzz.
When asked about her feelings when she walks out onto the pitch ahead of kick-off, she replied: "These emotions are difficult to put into words because we are born to play these matches and enjoy it with our crowd and our people here.
"I remember every single Champions League we play as unique moments I'll remember forever."
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