Aitana Bonmati admits that it came as a “big surprise” to see Arsenal reach the final of the Women's Champions League, while Barcelona is an offer to defend their European crown.
Barca, European champions in 2021, 2023 and 2024, will strive to keep their dominance in the competition on Saturday, with last place in Lisbon.
Arsenal will appear in the showpiece competition for the second time, after he was crowned European champions in 2007, after he had organized a semi-final Vechtback to defeat Lyon.
They were defeated 2-1 on a home floor in the first stage, but goals from Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foren's E-Ess's own goal from Christiane Endler saw the eight-time champions 4-1 away from home to collect 5-3.
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati admitted that she did not expect that she would meet the Gunners, who did not confront Barca since he registered two wins on them in the 2021-22 group phase.
“For me it was a surprise, Arsenal reached the final,” Bonmati said in an interview with ESPN.
“They absolutely deserve it, because scoring four goals against Lyon in the second stage is not easy at all.
“I congratulate them for that because I think it was a big surprise, but a well -deserved. It is a final with a different feeling because we have never played Arsenal in a final.
“It's a few years since we even played them. For that reason it is a new challenge for us, being able to play a different team.”
Barça on the way to their sixth #uwcl -final in seven years #uwclfinal || @Fcbfemeni pic.twitter.com/9xccdy6nud
– UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) 19 May 2025
The comeback victory of Arsenal on Lyon was the first time they had won a knockout of Champions League after losing the first stage, and only the third time in 28 cases that Lyon had wasted an advantage of the first leg.
Caldentey was one of the heroes of that triumph, and she will come across many familiar faces on Saturday after she had represented Barca for 10 years before she came to the Gunners last July.
Bolmati and Caldentey started together in 47 Champions League matches for Barca, with their record on 37 victories, three draws and seven defeats. The Blaugrana had a profit percentage of 78.7% with the duo in their line -up and an average of 3.1 goals per match.
“I am looking forward to it, but it will be strange to see Mariona in the other shirt and play against us,” Bonmati said about their reunion.
“I have never had that feeling against her. She has been a player I have played all my life, here and with the Spanish national team.
“She has always been by my side and exchanged, so it will be strange to have her like an opponent.”
This season Caldentey has seven Champions League goals, with Barca striker Claudia Pina (10) the only player who defeated her.