Arsenal Women Claim First Champions League Win of the Season with 2–0 Victory over Benfica

Beth Mead and Alessia Russo scored as Arsenal Women beat Benfica 2–0 in Lisbon to earn their first Champions League win of the season.

Arsenal Women secured their first Champions League win of the 2025/26 season with a composed 2–0 victory over Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on October 16, 2025. Goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo helped the reigning European champions respond impressively after their opening defeat to Lyon.

The match began with both sides showing caution, but Arsenal gradually took control of possession. In the 19th minute, Beth Mead nearly broke the deadlock with a curling free-kick that brushed the top of the net. Benfica’s Diana Silva then threatened at the other end, only to be denied by Daphne van Domselaar, who made a confident low save.

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Despite their dominance, Arsenal initially struggled to penetrate Benfica’s compact defensive setup. Lotte Wubben-Moy came close with a header from a Kyra Cooney-Cross corner, while Mariona Caldentey created chances through clever link-up play on the wing.

Benfica’s best opportunity of the first half came when Anna Gasper delivered a pinpoint cross that found Gomes, but Van Domselaar reacted sharply to keep the scores level.

Mead and Russo Seal the Win

Arsenal’s persistence paid off in the 57th minute. A goalmouth scramble fell kindly to Beth Mead, who reacted quickest to poke the ball home and give Arsenal a crucial lead. The breakthrough injected confidence into Renee Slegers’ side, who began to dictate the tempo with greater fluency.

As Benfica pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Arsenal remained disciplined. In the 89th minute, substitute Chloe Kelly delivered a perfectly placed free-kick into the box, where Alessia Russo calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to seal a deserved 2–0 victory.

Confidence Restored for the Defending Champions

This result marked Arsenal Women’s first Champions League win of the campaign and extended their momentum following a recent domestic victory over Brighton. Manager Renee Slegers praised her team’s determination and tactical organization, especially in a stadium where Arsenal famously lifted the trophy last season.

“The team showed great maturity and patience tonight,” Slegers said post-match. “It was important to respond after Lyon, and we did that in style.”

With three valuable points now secured, Arsenal sit firmly back in contention as they continue their title defense. Meanwhile, Benfica remain winless in Group B following back-to-back defeats to Juventus and Arsenal.

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