Key events
78 min: Barca get a corner and this time they go long but it’s straight out. Arsenal really need to control this game now. Just over 10 minutes left, game management will be key.
77 min: Apologies I initially credited Russo with that goal but it was Blackstenius, who had been on the pitch for just eight minutes, who slots it home. Huge.
The corner was initially repelled but the Gunners kept it alive. Mead popped a lovely ball through to Blackstenius and rolls it past Coll. The goalkeeper doesn’t even move. Oh my word.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Barcelona (Blackstenius, 75)
Oh my word.
74 min: Blackstenius is proving a real thorn in Barcelona’s side, another great run from her forces Paredes to concede a corner.
73 min: Blackstenius wins the ball high up and she goes on a fantastic run, takes the shot but a great save from Coll stops the effort. The Arsenal star could have laid it off to Mead but she went alone. Barca then break and Pajor’s effort is over the bar. The game is starting to break up more now we’re into the final 20.
71 min: Corner is short again but it comes into the box, Arsenal stick to the Barca players like glue though and they don’t have enough space to shoot. The Gunners clear. Denis has also got back to me and confirmed he was a pro skier, what a baller.
70 min: McCabe had a bit of treatment there too but she is okay to continue, just a slightly painful shin. Barcelona get some passes together and they are oh so close to the opener. Pajor’s shot is deflected by Catley for a corner.
68 min: Arsenal make a double change with Mead and Blackstenius on for Maanum and Kelly.
67 min: Kelly is shown a yellow card for a shove on Putellas, an unnecessary foul to give away. There is a slight break in play for a water break, it remains around 27 degress in Lisbon.
65 min: McCabe goes down in the box but no penalty is given, the Arsenal players did not protest so seems the right decision. The star is okay to continue.
64 min: Paralluelo straight into the action as Barca looks for the opener. Again it comes to Batlle and she takes a shot from a far out position. She must have been slotting them for fun in training because she just keeps trying the move. Van Domselaar saves once again.
62 min: Leon takes the corner short again, the move has not worked yet will it now? No but it was close. It is passed to Batlle at long range and it’s just over. Barca now make their first change with Paralluelo on for Pina.
61 min: The corner is taken short again but it come in, Maanum watches it closely and clears. Barca keep their momentum going and Bonmati rifles off a shot. Van Domselaar makes another good save but concedes a corner.
60 min: A good ball into the box comes from Williamson but no one was tracking the move and Coll is able to clear. Barcelona counter but Foord – again – does really well to muscle the chance out of the box, the Australian is a star for the Gunners so far. Barca win it back and win a corner.
58 min: “I was ski racing back then,” says Denis of his 2007 antics. “Not very successful but wickedly good fun.”
Just as a hobby Denis or were you an aspiring professional?
56 min: Bonmati punches the air in frustration after putting in a great ball into the box, only for it to be caught by Van Domselaar.
55 min: Arsenal are also doing a great job in defence, they are nudging Barca just off of their centre and they can’t quite get things clicking.
54 min: Barca feel as though they are getting closer, this time with a shot just wide from Batlle. But they still aren’t their characteristic selves. A lot of loose passes and heavy touches.
52 min: Paredes gives away a free kick and gets a yellow card for a foul on Foord. McCabe is the taker and it’s a good delivery, Foord then fouls Batlle and the danger is gone.
51 min: That was some sumptuous football by Barca. Beautiful passing and the shot comes from Pina who smacks the bar. The closest Barca have come all game.
49 min: Barcelona fans don’t like the decision but a free kick has been given after a foul from Patri. The Gunners work it into the box but Foord’s shot is blocked by Paredes.
48 min: Barcelona win an early second half corner with Bonmati the taker, they go short but it comes to Pina. She takes a long range shot but Van Domselaar collects.
47 min: “2007 was a pretty stressful year for me, actually,” Joe Pearson says. “After my company acquired another, it was my job to integrate the organizations. Part of the deal was to offer all their employees a job. So in the end, I gave my own job to one of theirs. Then I had to struggle to find a place for me in the new structure. Managed to survive. Then turned fifty. Thanks for making me break out in a cold sweat of memory.
“As for snacks, I have had some cheese (with cracked black pepper) and crackers, paired with some salami and sweet and spicy pickles. There may have been a glass of wine in the mix as well.”
That does sound so stressful but at least you have amazing snacks to help put that memory from 18 years ago in the distance. Thank you for sharing Joe. Just to confirm, no half-time changes either.
Back underway: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Can Arsenal continue their good form in this final and see it out? Or will Barcelona retain their crown? All to come but remember 0-0 at full time and we head to extra time, then the dreaded penalties. I don’t think there have been any changes for either side yet.
Tom Garry
That was such an encouraging first 45 minutes for Arsenal. The Barcelona fans are a little bit quiet at the moment and that reflects how well the English side have performed so far.
The call out to hear from you was what were you doing in 2007? That was the last time Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League. I was in primary school and a huge Girls Aloud fan, what were you doing? Email me and let me know.
This is the moment that could have separated the teams at half-time. Irene Paredes, the player on the floor with her hands on her face, turned it goalward. But Mapi Leon calls for the referee to check for offside and VAR were already on it. It was ruled out and the final stands at 0-0.
Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Irene Paredes thought she had scored an own goal to give Arsenal the lead but it was ruled out for an earlier offside. Barcelona have had chances through Aitana Bonmati and Arsenal’s Frida Maanum has also come close but it remains 0-0 is a competitive match.
45 + 1 min: There will be one minute added.
45 min: Foord thought she had won a corner but it’s given as a goal kick, on the reply I think it should have been a corner. But Arsenal win it, they get it in the box but it’s out for a goal kick.
43 min: Barcelona want a penalty as a ball came in for Graham Hansen with the defending champions saying there was a hand ball. Nothing has been given but a reminder VAR is in operation so they will be checking in the background.
41 min: Can the deadlock be broken before half-time? As things look right now Barca looks the more likely. Pina has a shot blocked, the Barcelona star looking to extend her top-scorer tally.
39 min: Barca take the corner short but it comes with Van Domselaar punching clear once again. The goalkeeper has been unbelievable for Arsenal this season and is impressing in this final.
38 min: Another Barcelona corner as the defending champions continue to build. McCabe saw it out with her face, that looked like a painful one.
36 min: Williamson does excellently as Barca break, she hones in on the ball and executes a tackle perfectly to clear. Brilliant from the England captain.
35 min: It’s a poor corner but Barca keep it alive with a long ball from Bonmati. Van Domselaar punches away and Arsenal breathe again.
34 min: Arsenal largely doing well to take the sting out of Barca’s attack. But one moment and the defending champions can score and Rolfo almost creates one. She crosses in but Foord tackles well to concede a corner.
32 min: This time it is Barca’s turn to make their opposition nervous. Bonmati finds some space and weaves herself into a shooting position but Van Domselaar makes the save.
31 min: Again, Arsenal with a delightful move that looks straight off of the training ground. They were running rings around Barca there. Kelly’s cross across the box just doesn’t quite reach a teammate.
30 min: Foord, who has a really great start to the game, wins a free kick in Arsenal’s own half. They build from deep but then let it roll out of play.
29 min: Kelly takes the corner and the delivery is a good one but it’s repelled. It drops for Little but her effort goes over the bar. Arsenal the team closer to breaking this deadlock.
28 min: Well that would have been an absolute screamer. Maanum takes a long range shot and it takes an excellent touch from Coll to keep it out. Arsenal corner to come.
26 min: Russo crosses in and finds Fox but Pina does well to put her off and Coll can collect her shot. The Gunners taking confidence from their almost lead.
24 min: Paredes went straight to her goalkeeper and they had an embrace as that was etched off. The defender is seriously relieved with that.
NO GOAL! Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
It’s been ruled out because Kelly is offside. Barca breathe a sigh of relief.