Arsenal’s women will face Benfica in a Women’s Champions League knockout tie after a 2‑1 victory over Tottenham last Saturday. The Gunners, who finished sixth in the Women’s Super League, are looking to turn a difficult start to the season around with a win that could lift them to the top of the group.
The match, scheduled to kick off at 8 pm GMT, comes after a mixed run of results for the Arsenal side. They have won only two of their first seven league games and have collected four points from six Champions League matches, a record that falls short of the six points they earned in the same number of games last season. Head coach Renee Slegers highlighted the importance of the Tottenham win in her pre‑match notes, describing it as a turning point that “should be the beginning of something.” She praised the players’ dedication and the support of the fans, noting that the team had been motivated to play for something bigger than themselves.
Arsenal will line up in a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, with a squad that includes new additions Elisa De Almeida, Ona Batlle and Geraldine Reuteler, who replace Leah Williamson, Emily Fox and Lisa Baum. The bench features a mix of experienced and young players, including Borbe, Damm, Fox and Wubben‑Moy. Benfica will field a 4‑3‑3, with Pauels in goal and a back line of Amado, Gomes, Testen and Bratberg Lund. The midfield trio of Pauleta, Moller and Csiki will be joined by Davidson, Dorsin and Alves in attack, while the squad also contains a number of promising substitutes.
The game follows a day of early action in the tournament, with Bayern Munich losing 1‑2 to Real Madrid, Chelsea drawing 0‑0 with Roma, Servette winning 3‑0 over OH Leuven, and other fixtures still to be played. Arsenal’s objective is clear: secure a victory that will reinforce their position in the group and restore confidence after a rocky start. The outcome will determine whether they can maintain momentum as the competition progresses.