Women’s Champions League 2025-2026: Defending champion Arsenal loses opening match against Lyon; Barcelona beats Bayern

Defensive errors cost Arsenal again as they started their defense of the Women’s Champions League title with a 2-1 home defeat to Lyon on Tuesday.

Alessia Russo gave Arsenal an early lead before Melchie Dumornay’s quick double turned the match for eight-time record winners Lyon in the first round of the revamped tournament.

After the men switched from a group stage to a competitive format last season, the Women’s Champions League also made the switch.

Barcelona, ​​​​which lost to Arsenal in the final last season, defeated Bayern Munich 7-1 in one of three other matches on Tuesday.

Arsenal have had a tough start to the domestic season, failing to win their previous three games, but took the lead against Lyon in the seventh minute thanks to two of their European Championship-winning players.

Sheer persistence from Beth Mead saw her weave her way into the area, attracting several players before handing it over to England teammate Russo to fire over the bottom right corner.

Arsenal gifted the visitors an equalizer in the 18th minute when Daphne van Domselaar controlled a back pass but played it straight to Dumornay. The Arsenal goalkeeper thought she had redeemed herself by saving the effort, but Dumornay pushed the rebound past her and into an empty net.

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A defensive error cost Arsenal again five minutes later, allowing Dumornay to slot into the top right corner.

Lyon lost to Arsenal in the semi-finals last season.

The 18-team competition phase ends in December. Teams finishing first through fourth in the standings will advance directly to the quarter-finals. Those ranked Nos. 5 through 12 will advance to a knockout playoff round. The bottom six teams are eliminated.

Pina’s return. Substitute Clàudia Pina returned from injury and scored a late double to add sparkle to the scoreline for Barcelona.

Pina missed Barcelona’s last league match due to a thigh injury, but was brought on early in the second half. At that moment, Barcelona was already 4-1 ahead and Ewa Pajor extended that lead moments later with her second of the evening.

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas scored Barcelona’s opener with a sublime curling finish and also weighed in with two assists.

Esmee Brugts and Salma Paralluelo scored Barcelona’s other goals, either side of Klara Bühl’s strike for Bayern.

Anniversary goals Juventus defender Cecilia Salvai marked the 10th anniversary of her Women’s Champions League debut with her first two goals in the competition as her team came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1 in the early game.

Lucia Alves scored the first goal of the new competition in the sixth minute, finishing Nycole Raysla’s cross with an emphatic strike from close range.

However, Juventus took control of the match from then on, driven by a lively performance from Barbara Bonansea on the right.

And the experienced Italy international was key to Juve’s equalizer in the 22nd minute. He beat two players in the area before bringing the ball across for Salvai to head past Lena Pauels.

It was Salvai’s first goal in the competition, ten years after her debut in the Women’s Champions League for Verona.

Juventus had numerous chances to take the lead and Bonansea also had a goal disallowed for offside shortly before halftime.

The Bianconere took victory in the 86th minute when a corner kick was initiated and Salvai stuck out a leg to fire the ball into the back of the net.

Debutants delight European debutants OH Leuven fought back from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Paris FC.

Paris looked to take the lead after a dominant first half, taking a 2-0 lead inside 23 minutes through Daphne Corboz and Clara Mateo.

However, Kim Everaerts pulled one back early in the second half and Sara Pusztai equalized in the 62nd.

Leuven is the first Belgian team to reach the league stage or group stage of the competition.

Published on October 8, 2025