From Underdog to Final: Can Arsenal Shock Barcelona for Champions League Glory?

06 May 2025

“You put your neck out there and you receive might receive pelters, but then it's it's for the greater good. And sometimes I think I used to wait around for a pat on the back or a thank you from people and you realise you’ll be waiting a long time.”
Natalie Sawyer caught up with former Lioness and Arsenal player Lianne Sanderson to discuss the Women’s Champions League, the Women’s Euro and what it’s like to be a trailblazer.
First on the agenda was Arsenal’s second leg comeback in their Champions League semi-final against eight-time Champions Lyon which saw them win 5-3 on aggregate to earn a date with Barcelona in the showpiece event that will be staged in Lisbon later this month.
“I was completely blown away,” said Lianne, “because I covered the game and I was like, my head or my heart was telling me two different things. Lyon hadn't lost a game since last year's final. And that includes Champions League, that includes their leagues. The first leg, I thought, Lyon were far superior at the Emirates. I think the scoreline flattered Arsenal quite a bit. But I think going into the second leg, you know they beat Lyon in Lyon in 2022, so everyone kept talking about this. And I'm like, I just couldn't see it. I wanted to see it.”
Well, she did see it – and if that was a happy surprise, it was followed three days later by “the biggest shock ever”, as 9th placed Aston Villa beat Arsenal 5-2! Lianne told us that this result demonstrates a lack of strength in depth in the Gunners squad. Even so, the North London side can field some world class talent. Among their number, for example, Mariona Caldentey, a Spanish player signed from Barcelona last summer.
And, of course, it’s Barça they face on the 24th May, the team who romped past Women’s Super League champions Chelsea (8-2 on aggregate). Barcelona are seeking a third successive title, and a 4th overall.
“I heard a lot of different pundits before the game against Chelsea saying Chelsea were going to win. And I'm like, have they seen this Barcelona team? They've got Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluela. Like the list could go on. They're a top team.
“I mean, just to summarise, like their centre-back takes corners, Mapi Leon. I've never known a centre-back to be the corner taker because they are the best technically at that action. And I just feel like the thing that separates Barcelona from everybody else, they're so comfortable on the ball.
“Like the way they ping the ball into each other, they move around the pitch in triangles. They are the best for a reason. And I love watching them. And hopefully they have a similar performance like Lyon did against Arsenal. And, you know, Arsenal can get the job done, but it's going to be difficult.”

Arsenal are the only British team to have won this competition, back in 2007, when Lianne was playing. They faced Umeå of Sweden.
“We were the underdogs against Umea. Like, that was Marta's team. Ramona Bachmann was 16 years old. She was incredible. And when you're the underdog sometimes, the pressure is on the other team. And I think one thing that we really loved is the fact when we won it, Umea had a party booked. We heard about that. They had limousines waiting.”

Looking ahead to this summer’s EURO, and Lianne fears a little for the Lionesses, who are in a group with France, Netherlands and Wales. Spain are her favourites for the title, with Les Bleues pushing them hard.
As for the state of women’s sport, the WSL and the Lionesses are getting more coverage, but there remains work to be done to boost attendances, in Lianne’s view. Part of the problem, she feels, is that women players used to be very approachable. In the noughties and even the teens, they’d sign a load of autographs and pose for a plethora of selfies. Now, the interactions with fans seem few and far between. It’s a difficult balance: Lianne doesn’t expect today’s players to sign thousands of autographs, but it may be that the close contact encouraged supporters to turn out.
“Other than that,” she said, “I'm pretty happy with where the game's at. Being a professional footballer was the biggest honour. But I think being able to help people by just being me, you know, and being visible, you know, I was the first ever player to come out that I was gay. I was the first ever player to go to Italy and, you know, talk about my sexuality. I don't want to talk about it all the time, but it becomes a topic of conversation.”
This is an example of the power of sport to change minds and transform cultures. It takes guts, and it takes commitment, both of which, along with footballing talent and a positive attitude, Lianne Sanderson has in droves.