Arsenal annoys Barça again

BarcelonaPere Romeu will continue without beating Arsenal. Barça could not go beyond a draw at the Camp Nou against the London side in a match marked by the lack of accuracy of the blue and reds, who hit the post and the visiting goalkeeper, the former Real Madrid player Misa Rodríguez, on several occasions (1-1). The English team knew how to take advantage of their chances to add a golden point against the Catalans, who fall to second place in the standings due to goal difference. Lyon is the leader with the same number of points.

The last time the two teams had met, the final result was also not pleasant for the blue and reds. It was at the continental final in Lisbon, in 2025, which ended with a gunner victory by 1 goal to 0. It was Romeu's first season, who was able to get rid of the thorn a year later by winning the club's fourth Champions League in history in Oslo.

Barça, who arrived as clear favorites for the match after winning their first three Champions League games of the season, ran into a very solid defense from the visitors, who knew how to perfectly cover the spaces to discomfort the style of play of the 'blaugranes', who were unable to translate their dominance on the field onto the scoreboard.

Desperation: that is how the first half for Barça could be summarized. Romeu put her hands to her head after the umpteenth chance missed by Barça, who did everything possible to equalize Frida Maanum's goal. Graham Hansen, Sydney Schertenleib, Irene Paredes, Claudia Pina..., the home chances arrived in every possible way, but Misa –even with her face–, the post, and a lack of aim denied the goal to the 'blaugranes'.

At the other end, Arsenal was much more effective. The English team, which barely crossed midfield, had enough with two bites to open the scoring at the Camp Nou. Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo missed in the first instance, but Maanum—after a good save by Cata Coll from Foord's shot—drove the hundred English fans present in Barcelona wild.

Romeu did not take long to make changes. The coach from Barcelona, who had opted to leave Aitana Bonmatí—who is not yet 100% recovered from the discomfort she had in her left ankle—on the bench, brought her on in place of Clara Serrajordi, to the ovation of the Camp Nou. Barça, which was attacking with insistence, found its reward through the boots of Graham Hansen, currently the most game-changing player in Europe.

Arsenal coach Renée Slegers, who had the substitutions ready, brought former Barça player Ona Batlle onto the pitch. The Camp Nou greeted the Catalan full-back with loud jeers – which continued every time she touched the ball – due to some statements she made when she signed for the English team, where she claimed it was the “right” place to win titles. Words that came just after achieving a quadruple with Barça.

The blaugranes let the first points in this Champions League slip away, but they will remain with the same number of points as Olympique Lyonnais. Servette, at the Johan Cruyff stadium, and Bayern Munich, in Germany, will define the final position of the blaugranes.