Champions League holders Arsenal secured their first win of the 2025-26 league phase with second-half strikes from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo, edging a tight contest against Benfica at the Estadio da Luz.

Match Summary

Arsenal, coming off a disappointing start where Lyon snatched a last-minute win at Meadow Park, looked to regain momentum following a WSL victory over Brighton. Their trip to Lisbon, the city where they won their second European crown in May, began frustratingly with few chances in the first half.

• Daphne van Domselaar, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, kept the scores level with a superb save from Diana Gomes’ header.
• Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to convert chances early in the second half.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute when a mix-up in Benfica’s defense allowed Mead to apply the final touch for the opener. Benfica remained dangerous, prompting coach Renee Slegers to bring on last season’s final hero Stina Blackstenius and England winger Chloe Kelly.

The match was sealed in the 89th minute by Russo, who capitalized on a loose ball from a free-kick to finish into the bottom corner, giving Arsenal a 2-0 victory.

Standings

• Arsenal now sit ninth in the Champions League league-phase table.
• Benfica, having lost both opening fixtures, join Paris St-Germain, Roma, and St Polten at the bottom.

Analysis: Arsenal’s Hard-Fought Victory

Arsenal have struggled to replicate the form that saw them defeat Barcelona 1-0 in last year’s final. Despite high expectations for the 2025-26 season in both WSL and Champions League, they are struggling to consistently create clear chances, averaging 1.87 goals per game in their first eight matches.

Midfielder Mariona Caldentey emphasized the team’s need to improve across the board:

"We need to be more consistent defensively and we have so much quality up front that we should score more goals. It's not one or two players, it's all of us. We are aware of that and we promise we will try harder and we will be better."

Arsenal sit five points behind reigning WSL champions Chelsea and are three points off the pace in the Champions League group stage. Nevertheless, consecutive wins provide a platform for improvement after the international break.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Arsenal: Travel to Leicester City in the WSL on Sunday, 2 November (12:00 GMT).
• Benfica: Face Maritimo in the League Cup on Sunday (11:00 BST).

Arsenal will aim to build on their Champions League win as they seek consistency both domestically and in Europe.