Arsenal Reaches Champions League Final After 18 Years

Arsenal Women have reached the Champions League final after beating Lyon 5-3 on aggregate. This is their first final in 18 years, a big change from previous years.
By Newsroom | Football, Europe |

Arsenal Women have secured a spot in the Women's Champions League final, overcoming an initial deficit to defeat Lyon over two legs. The aggregate score settled at 5-3 after a commanding 4-1 victory in the second leg in Lyon on April 27, 2025. This marks the club's first appearance in the final in nearly two decades.

The decisive second leg saw Arsenal overturn a 2-1 first-leg loss with a performance marked by capitalizing on Lyon's defensive lapses. Key moments included an own goal from Lyon's goalkeeper Christiane Endler, and strikes from Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord, exploiting sloppy defending. Melchie Dumornay managed a late consolation for Lyon.

WCL: Arsenal name same XI from first leg vs Lyon LIVE! - 1

Turnaround Against Champions

The semi-final tie presented a significant challenge, with Lyon having won all nine of their previous Champions League matches in the campaign. This victory marks a notable upset, halting Lyon's streak of 11 consecutive semi-final aggregate wins in the competition. Manager Renee Slegers' side achieved this turnaround despite a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at home on April 19, 2025.

Read More: Brentford Beats West Ham After Late Own Goal on May 2nd

First Leg Encounter

In the initial tie, played on April 19, 2025, Arsenal fell 2-1 to Lyon, with goals from K. Diani and M. Dumornay for the visitors, and a penalty from M. Caldentey for Arsenal. The team was noted for an uncharacteristically passive first-half performance, but showed promise in the second.

WCL: Arsenal name same XI from first leg vs Lyon LIVE! - 2

Another report on the first leg, published on April 25, 2026, indicates Arsenal secured a 2-1 win in their home match. This clash saw Olivia Smith net the winner after Jule Brand had opened the scoring for Lyon. Arsenal's goals included a free-kick that resulted in an own goal and Smith's late winner, stemming from a defensive misstep. This conflicting information regarding the first leg result suggests a discrepancy in the provided data.

Arsenal's progression to the final sets up a meeting with reigning champions Barcelona.

Read More: Nottingham Forest beats Aston Villa 1-0 with penalty in Europa League semi-final

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did Arsenal Women reach the Champions League final?
Arsenal Women beat Lyon 5-3 over two legs in the semi-final. They won the second leg 4-1 in Lyon on April 27, 2025, after losing the first leg 2-1.
Q: When was the last time Arsenal Women were in the Champions League final?
This is the first time Arsenal Women have reached the Champions League final in 18 years. Their last appearance was a long time ago.
Q: Who will Arsenal Women play against in the Champions League final?
Arsenal Women will play against the current champions, Barcelona, in the final.
Q: What was the score in the second leg against Lyon?
Arsenal won the second leg against Lyon 4-1 on April 27, 2025. This win helped them overcome the first-leg loss and secure their place in the final.
Q: Did Arsenal have a tough match against Lyon?
Yes, Lyon had won all their previous Champions League matches this season. Arsenal's win stopped Lyon's streak of reaching the final.