Arsenal returns to the prestigious UEFA Women's Champions League final after an 18-year wait, facing the reigning champions, Barcelona, in Lisbon. The atmosphere in the capital is vibrant, as supporters from both teams mingle in anticipation of the match. Historically, Arsenal last won the tournament in 2007, and the final venue, the 50,000-capacity Jose Alvalade Stadium, reflects the growing profile of women's football. Though Arsenal's fanbase is smaller at the match, they enjoy significant community support and come into the final with a reputation for resilient comebacks this season, overcoming adversity against top clubs like Real Madrid and Lyon.
Arsenal's supporters will be in the minority, with approximately 5,000 believed to have made the journey from London, compared with the 30,000-plus reportedly arriving from Spain.
Arsenal have a huge community behind them; a vast number of hand-written messages of good luck from staff and players from across the club have been pinned on walls in the corridors of their training ground.
Arsenal are underdogs but they have been the comeback queens of this season's competition, not only through their second-leg fightbacks to overturn deficits against Real Madrid and Lyon.
The modern, 50,000-capacity Jose Alvalade Stadium, which sold out on Friday, offers a venue worthy of these sides' pedigree.
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