Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas insisted they will take nothing for granted in Barcelona's Women's Champions League final against Arsenal on Saturday. 

Barcelona take on the Gunners at Estadio Jose Alvalade hoping to retain their European crown and win the tournament for the fourth time in the last five years. 

This will be the Blaugrana's sixth appearance in the Champions League final, and fifth in a row, with only Lyon (11) appearing in more.

Barca beat Wolfsburg and Lyon in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and could become just the second team to win the competition three seasons in a row after Lyon. 

And they face an Arsenal side appearing in their first Champions League final since 2006-07, when they won the tournament under Vic Akers. 

But experience is on Barca's side, with players in their squad having made 48 collective appearances in finals, while Arsenal only have Mariona Caldentey in their ranks, who has experienced the pressure of the showpiece match with the Blaugrana. 

And that has made Pere Romeu's the favourites heading into the game, winning 56.5% of Opta's data-led simulations. Arsenal, meanwhile, are handed a 21.7% win probability. 

Putellas, however, acknowledged the difficulty her team face, saying: "A final is unpredictable. There may be things you can't control.

"We know we can do it. It is true that Arsenal are a great team and that they are in the final for a reason."

Bonmati, who has created the most chances (29) and provided the most assists (five) in the Champions League this season, echoed her team-mates comments. 

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner also added that Barca's experience from playing in previous finals was invaluable ahead of facing Arsenal. 

"I've learned a lot of things. It is the path that has fallen to us. The first final in Budapest was an inexperienced team that was going to see what happened," she said.

"Now we are the team to beat," she said. "Knowing how to be, knowing how to suffer is very important. And never giving up. We have had finals where we have come back. We have had games of all colours."

This will be the fifth meeting between Arsenal and Barca in the Champions League, with the Gunners winning both legs of a round of 32 tie in 2012-13.

But Barca won both group stage matches in 2021-22, though Arsenal have a good record against Spanish opposition in the competition, progressing from all four of their knockout stage ties against such teams. 

However, the Blaugrana have proved time and time again why they are the team to beat, romping to a crushing 8-2 victory over Women's Super League champions Chelsea in the semi-finals of the competition. 

They rank first in all key attacking areas in the competition this season, averaging the most goals (4.4), shots (23.1), shots on target (9.9) and expected goals (xG) per game (2.9), as well as having the best conversion rate (19.1%).

"Everything leads you to be what you are now," Putellas added. "In that first match of this competition it was unthinkable what would come next.

"It's thanks to work. I feel privileged to have been able to live this whole journey."

Barcelona boss Romeu could become the 11th manager to win the Champions League in their debut campaign and the first since Sonia Bompastor with Lyon in 2021-22. 

Three of the last four winning managers have also been Spaniards, with Lluis Cortes in 2021 and Jonatan Giraldez in 2023 and 2024 also doing so with Barca. 

Romeu is also searching for his 10th win in his 11th Champions League game as a manager. Only Jean-Luc Vasseur (won first 10) has reached that mark in fewer matches. 

However, the Barca boss was also wary of the threat Renee Slegers' side possess, describing the Gunners as a "brave team" who are strong in the box. 

"We will have to show our best version," he said. "We know the type of game we want to play. We are a team with records, with mastery at different times.

"We will try to exploit the space they leave us."