Women's Champions League final: Arsenal opener against Barcelona ruled out by VAR

BBC News

24-05-2025

Update:
Date: 17:26 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
This game has the men's FA Cup final feel about it. Barca (Man City) attacking/controlling the game, Arsenal (Palace) could nick this on the counter.
Nemo
Update:
Date: 25 mins
Title: 'Barca would've been a little worried'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Emma SandersBBC Sport women's football news reporter at Estadio Jose Alvalade
A huge moment for Arsenal. They have definitely caused Barcelona problems and rattled them a little bit.
Frida Maanum did look offside straight away but Barca would have been a little worried.
Update:
Date: 17:25 BST
Title: 'Warning sign for Barcelona'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Izzy ChristiansenFormer England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Estadio Jose Alvalade
It is really good offensive final third play from Arsenal. Apart from the offside.
A brilliant run, but Frida Maanum failed to time it later. That is a massive warning sign for Barcelona. They have not been at the races.
Update:
Date: 24 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Jen BeattieFormer Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
To the naked eye, I thought she might've been offside.
It just goes to show the uncertainly those runs in behind can cause.
Update:
Date: 23 mins
Title: DISALLOWED GOAL - Arsenal
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Arsenal think they have taken the lead when Frida Maanum gets free on the right wing and her low cross is diverted into her own net by Barcelona defender Irene Paredes.
But Paredes is the most relieved person in Lisbon as an offside check shows Maanum had gone too early when collecting the ball. A let off for Barcelona.
Update:
Date: 17:19 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Arsenal doing everything so far that Chelsea didn't do. They have to take their chances though.
Dave, London
Update:
Date: 19 mins
Title: 'Got to pick the moments to be aggressive'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Izzy ChristiansenFormer England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Arsenal at their best are when they're aggressive.
With the heat you have got to pick the moments to be aggressive. You cannot go at 70% you have got to go at 100%.
That's where Arsenal have got to manage the game.
Update:
Date: 18 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
A dangerous corner is swung into the Arsenal box from the right by Mapi Leon and goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar starts to come for the ball but doesn't get there, and is relieved to see team-mate Alessia Russo make a vital clearing header.
Update:
Date: 17:15 BST
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Emma SandersBBC Sport women's football news reporter at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Aitana Bonmati was annoyed with herself and was gesturing she should have curled it into the top corner instead. Barcelona haven't really controlled the game yet which they are not used to.
Update:
Date: 16 mins
Title: 'Beautiful play from Barcelona'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Izzy ChristiansenFormer England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Again, beautiful play from Barcelona.
The chop from Aitana Bonmati, she shifts it onto her left foot. The covering defender, Chloe Kelly sliding across to block it.
Update:
Date: 17:14 BST
Title: 'More of that'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Jen BeattieFormer Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
On the Foord chance...
Foord is really unlucky not to get that goalward. What a ball, what a run, more of that from Arsenal.
That's a huge confidence boost, knowing they can threaten the backline of Barcelona.
Update:
Date: 15 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Aitana Bonmati is proving a real handful for the Arsenal defence. She jinks inside her marker inside the penalty area, but Chloe Kelly has tracked back well and is able to get a vital block in, with the ball tamely looping up into the hands of Daphne van Domselaar.
Update:
Date: 14 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Better from Arsenal. Kim Little plays an angled pass to the back post and Caitlin Foord has space to either head at goal or nod it across for a team-mate, but in the end she does neither with the header drifting harmlessly wide. That was a chance.
Update:
Date: 13 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Emma SandersBBC Sport women's football news reporter at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Barcelona fans have just started chanting Claudia Pina's name after Arsenal supporters booed her going down following a challenge from Chloe Kelly.
It gives the defending champions a bit of a boost and Mariona Caldentey - of all people - was almost robbed in the box twice.
Update:
Date: 12 mins
Title: 'You can't get away with it'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Jen BeattieFormer Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
Square balls across the box - you can't get away with it - especially not against this team.
Update:
Date: 11 mins
Title: 'Bizarre from Arsenal'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Izzy ChristiansenFormer England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Bizarre from Arsenal at the back.
They tried to clear the ball three times. They're trying to pass it out of their box. That's how you don't play against Barcelona.
Update:
Date: 10 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Nerves in the Arsenal defence. They play a square pass inside their own penalty area and nearly get punished. Mariona Caldentey then loses the ball 18 yards out, but Arsenal somehow manage to smuggle the ball clear.
Update:
Date: 17:09 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Arsenal haven't conceded yet which is better than Chelsea in 2021
Matt
Update:
Date: 9 mins
Title: Post
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Panic in the Arsenal defence as goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar has to come out of her penalty area and try to clear her lines. The clearance is unconvincing, but luckily for Arsenal it doesn't land at a red and blue shirt.
Update:
Date: 8 mins
Title: 'Overloading the wide area'
Content: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona
Izzy ChristiansenFormer England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live at Estadio Jose Alvalade
I have already identified an issue with Arsenal.
Out of possession Barcelona are overloading the wide area. That's how Barcelona are escaping Arsenal's press.