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Benfica suffered a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in London during the third round of the Women’s Champions League league phase on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as English striker Alessia Russo secured a hat-trick at Meadow Park, A Bola reported. With the hat-trick, the forward became the all-time leading English goalscorer in the Champions League, now holding 23 goals. Entering the match following a 4-1 domestic league victory over Sporting, the Lisbon side faced an opponent that controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.
Early Pressure and Missed Chances at Meadow Park
Arsenal immediately tested Benfica goalkeeper Lena Pauels, with Olivia Smith forcing an early save from outside the penalty area in the 2nd minute. Pauels produced several notable stops throughout the first half, keeping the score level as the English side pressed for an opening, including thwarting an effort from Ona Batlle and another close-range shot from Russo in the 63rd minute. Benfica carved out the best opportunity of the first half around the half-hour mark when Frøya Dorsin intercepted a misplaced backpass and rounded the advancing Arsenal goalkeeper, only to miss the target by a narrow margin.
Alessia Russo Breaks the Deadlock Before the Interval
Despite the defensive resistance organized by Pauels, Arsenal broke through in the 39th minute. Caitlin Foord delivered a pass from the right flank, allowing Alessia Russo to find space inside the penalty area and strike past the German goalkeeper for the opening goal. The strike gave the hosts a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime, following a first half featuring two minutes of additional time.
Second-Half Penalties and Standing in the Group
The pattern of the match continued after the break. Russo added her second goal in the 66th minute by heading home from a corner kick, and capped her hat-trick in the 79th minute by converting a penalty. During the second half, Benfica made tactical changes, including a double substitution in the 64th minute that saw Carolina Tristão replace Anna Csiki and Flourish Sabastine enter for Lúcia Alves. RTP noted that the result leaves Benfica in 11th place in the league phase standings with three points, following an earlier 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. Arsenal climbed to second place with seven points, level with group leaders Lyon.
Managerial Reaction and Squad Adjustments
Benfica manager Ivan Baptista addressed the media after the final whistle, acknowledging the difficulty of the fixture. We have to be honest with ourselves and accept the result as it is. Arsenal was better than us and deserved the victory,
Baptista told club media, pointing out that his side failed to capitalize on rare scoring opportunities. The 35-year-old coach also told UEFA that the team should have had more calm in certain moments. He also highlighted the physical constraints within the squad, noting that several players missed the trip due to fitness concerns while others required tactical adjustments during the match. Echoing the sentiment, forward Frøya Dorsin noted that the travelling supporters are fantastic and do everything for us.
Ivan Baptista likewise praised the backing from the stands, stating, Benfica is a special club. Wherever we go we have this support. The fans are fantastic, they help us through the difficult times, so I only have good things to say about them and I want to thank them for coming to support us.
Next Fixtures in Domestic and European Competition
Benfica returns to domestic competition on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 19h45, facing Torreense at Campo Manuel Marques for the sixth round of the Liga BPI. In the Women’s Champions League, the team’s next fixture brings Austrian side Austria Vienna—currently 14th with one point—to Lisbon.
