Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona result - Gunners crowned champions of Europe as Stina Blackstenius goal stuns Barca in UEFA Women's Champions League final

Aitana Bonmati strides through midfield, weaving her way through players and brings the ball to the edge of the box before Arsenal are finally able to clear their lines.

The Gunners have set up a high press and have already, in the very premature minutes of this game, have given Barcelona little time to work the ball forward and have looked to counter on an error.

Our referee for this evening is Ivana Martincic, who called the appointment a 'dream come true… a big honour and a privilege for me.'

The 39-year-old served as the fourth official in last year’s final, with the Croatian official overseeing the highly anticipated final on the big stage.

Barcelona gets us underway for the final showdown.

And here's a handy reminder of those all-important line-ups:

Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum, Foord, Kelly, Russo

Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Hurtig, Mead, Blackstenius

Barcelona XI: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo, Bonmati, Patri, Putellas, Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina.

Subs: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Paralluelo, Marta, Vicky, Engen, Brugts, Cano, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Judit.

The final preparations are underway before our kick-off in around 5 minutes' time.

We did see Aitana Bonmati, the Ballon d'Or Feminin holder, clutching her arm and in some discomfort during the warm-ups, but she did appear to be able to shake it off and continue.

It's approaching 5pm local time but it's still 28 degrees celscius in the Portugal capital ahead our European showdown.

How much could that pay a part in deciding the winner?

Barcelona claimed their tenth title as they pipped Real Madrid to the crown in strikingly similar fashion to their male counterparts.

Things have been plain sailing for Pere Romeu, who saw his side cruise into the final after scoring a whopping 44 goals and conceding just seven in the competition, despite losing 2-0 to Manchester City in their first group stage match.

A deadly duo of Claudia Pina and Ewa Pajor would see 17 goals scored between the pair in the UWCL, with the latter picking up her 32nd goal of the campaign during her first season at Barca.

With just three defeats in all competitions, Barca will surely be confident of adding another European title to their trophy cabinet this evening.

After a shaky start to the season, picking up just one win in their opening four WSL games, it was time for Jonas Eidevall to call time on his four-year stint at the helm of Arsenal Women’s.

A change in management which saw Renee Slegers, Eidevall’s assistant coach, take over as interim head coach, would see the North London side thrive in an eleven-match unbeaten run, which would see them qualify for the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League.

Slegers would eventually be appointed head coach in January having won over the players and crowd, with the Gunners eventually missing out on the WSL title to an unbeaten Chelsea side.

Arsenal would find themselves in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final after two thrilling comebacks against Real Madrid and Lyon in the knockout stages, with Arsenal remarkably overturning a 2-1 deficit on away soil against the eight-time champions Lyon to advance to the final.

Could that never-die-attitude propel them to their second European title despite being seen as the underdogs?

Arsenal’s Kim Little said that winning the UEFA Women's Champions League would be the "pinnacle" of her career in a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the encounter, Arsenal skipper Little said: "The quadruple season [2006/07] was the year before I signed and the last time we were in the final of a European competition, so now to be going into one this weekend, it’s nice to reflect on how much this club’s done for the women’s game. 

"To be back in a final is the pinnacle of anyone’s playing career. I can’t wait for that."

It’s time to delve right in as we prepare for the end-of-season finale in the ultimate test at the Jose Alvalade stadium, as Arsenal target their second trophy at European level against three-time winners, Barcelona.

Luckily, we have just the right people to preview the match as TNT Sports pundits Karen Carney and Fara Williams sat down to give us the lowdown on our teams and analyse how the British side could stun their Spanish counterparts.

Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati admitted she was surprised Arsenal were in the UEFA Women's Champions League final.

The Gunners overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Lyon 5-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals to set up a heavyweight encounter with reigning champions Barcelona at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Saturday.

"For me, it was a surprise Arsenal reaching the final," Bonmati told ESPN. "They absolutely deserve it, because scoring four goals against Lyon in the second leg is not easy at all.

"It's a final with a different feel because we've never played Arsenal in a final.

"It's been a few years since we even played them. For that reason, it's a new challenge for us, being able to play a different team." 

There's also one change from the Barcelona side, which beat Athletic Club 6-0 in the final of Liga F, with Claudia Pina replacing Salma Paralluelo.

The three-time winners name Pina alongside the deadly strikeforce of Ewa Pajor, Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen, who have all reached double figures this season, with Pajor scoring a remarkable 32 goals in all competitions.

Barcelona XI: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo, Bonmati, Patri, Putellas, Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina.

Subs: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Paralluelo, Marta, Vicky, Engen, Brugts, Cano, Schertenleib, Serrajordi, Judit.

There's one change from the Arsenal side which beat Manchester United 4-3 in the final Women's Super League game of the season and it's a big one.

Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar returns in goal, having missed the tail-end of the WSL season with an ankle ligament tear.

She replaces Manuela Zinsberger, which is named on the bench.

Upfront, Renee Slegers names the duo of Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo, with the latter netting 19 goals in all competitions this season

Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum, Foord, Kelly, Russo

Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Hurtig, Mead, Blackstenius

Arsenal will chase their second UEFA Women's Champions League title and first since 2007 when they come up against Barcelona in the 2024/25 final in Lisbon on Saturday.

The Gunners are looking to end an 18-year wait after dismantling record holders Lyon in the semi-final. Barca pose a serious threat, though, and can win their fourth title in five years.

The game gets underway at 17:00 UK time, with TNT Sports coverage starting at 16:00.

To tune in, head over to TNT Sports 1 or discovery+, and be sure to stick around as we bring you all the build-up ahead of this exciting fixture.

Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal.

Which team will be crowned champions of Europe tonight? Be sure to stick around.

Kick-off is at 17:00 BST/UK time.