Bonmati admits 'surprise' at Arsenal reaching Champions League final

Aitana Bonmati admits it came as a "big surprise" to see Arsenal reach the Women's Champions League final, as Barcelona bid to defend their European crown.

Barca, European champions in 2021, 2023 and 2024, will aim to maintain their dominance in the competition on Saturday, with the final taking place in Lisbon. 

Arsenal will feature in the showpiece match for just the second time, having been crowned European champions in 2007, having staged a semi-final fightback to beat Lyon.

They were defeated 2-1 on home soil in the first leg, but goals from Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord – as well as an own goal from Christiane Endler – saw them thrash the eight-time champions 4-1 away from home to advance 5-3 on aggregate.

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati has admitted she did not expect to meet the Gunners, who Barca have not faced since registering two wins over them in the 2021-22 group stage.

"For me, it was a surprise, Arsenal reaching the final," Bonmati said in an interview with ESPN.

"They absolutely deserve it, because scoring four goals against Lyon in the second leg is not easy at all.

"I congratulate them for that because I think it was a big surprise, but a well-deserved one. It's a final with a different feel because we've never played Arsenal in a final.

"It's been a few years since we even played them. For that reason, it's a new challenge for us, being able to play a different team."

Arsenal's comeback victory over Lyon was the first time they had won a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg, and just the third time in 28 instances that Lyon had squandered a first-leg advantage.

Caldentey was one of the heroes of that triumph, and she will come up against plenty of familiar faces on Saturday, having represented Barca for 10 years before joining the Gunners last July.

Bonmati and Caldentey started together in 47 Champions League games for Barca, with their record standing at 37 wins, three draws and seven defeats. The Blaugrana had a 78.7% win rate with the duo in their lineup and averaged 3.1 goals per game.

"I am looking forward to it, but it will be strange to see Mariona in the other shirt and playing against us," Bonmati said of their reunion.

"I have never had that feeling of playing against her. She's been a player I have played with my entire life, here and with the Spanish National Team.

"She's always been by my side, exchanging passes, so it will be strange to have her as an opponent."

Caldentey has seven Champions League goals this season, with Barca striker Claudia Pina (10) the only player to outscore her.