Mariona Caldentey's Arsenal Hoping To Break Barcelona Champions League Hegemony

Powered by former Barcelona star Mariona Caldentey, Arsenal must upset the odds against the all-conquering Catalan giants on Saturday to prevent them winning a fourth women's Champions League title in five years. Reaching their sixth final in seven years, Barcelona aim to further tighten their grip on the women's game at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon against Renee Slegers' side. The Dutch coach replaced Jonas Eidevall in October on an interim basis, made permanent in January as the team's form improved dramatically under her.

In the Champions League Arsenal produced a stirring quarter-final second-leg comeback to eliminate Real Madrid and then thrashed record eight-time winners Lyon 4-1 in France to reach the final.

While Lyon are the record holders, Barcelona have been Europe's dominant force in the last five years.

The Catalans eased into their fifth consecutive final by destroying English domestic treble winners Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona, who won the Champions League in 2021, 2023 and 2024, also sealed a sixth-consecutive Liga F victory and are well-placed to repeat last season's quadruple.

They boast two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas as well as an array of other stars, although they have also lost some important players.

One of those is winger Mariona Caldentey, a regular for Barcelona over the last decade who went looking for a new adventure.

The 29-year-old joined Arsenal in July and has become the team's key player, named the Women's Super League player of the season.

"She has given us that next level," said Slegers. "She's a total footballer. She's got everything."

Barca winger Caroline Graham Hansen said it will be strange facing the Spaniard.

"Obviously, she's been