The UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Benfica and Austria Wien, originally scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed due to a severe weather warning in Lisbon.
The Portuguese government issued an alert regarding storm “Charles,” which carries wind gusts of up to 140 km/h, according to reports from sport.ORF.at.
The fixture at the 68,000-seat Estadio da Luz is now set to take place on Thursday at 21:00 CET, as confirmed by Sky Sport Austria. The Austrian squad was already in transit to Portugal when the announcement was made, with the news reaching the team upon their arrival at the airport.
“Now, looking back, it was good for something, especially with a long flight and delayed luggage,” said Austria Wien head coach Stefan Kenesei, as reported by sport.ORF.at. He noted that the extra day allows the team to prepare more thoroughly and familiarize themselves with the stadium environment.
“In the first moment, we were all quite annoyed,” she told Sky Sport Austria, citing the travel delays. However, she emphasized that the team has since shifted its focus. “Now knowing that we can make up for it on Thursday gives us a positive boost, and we are happy that we can play after all,” Kirchberger-Prohaska said.
Austria Wien enters the match seeking their first-ever win in the Champions League group stage. Currently sitting in 15th place with one point from three matches—a 0-1 loss to Chelsea, a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan, and a 1-4 defeat to Juventus—the team remains two points behind Benfica, who occupy 12th place.
A victory on Thursday would see the Austrian double-winners climb over their opponents and move into contention for the knockout stages.
The match preparations have been complicated by roster concerns. Kronen Zeitung reports that Louise Schöffel remains sidelined with a thigh injury, while the status of top striker Modesta Uka is uncertain due to muscular issues. On a positive note, the team welcomes back experienced defender Katharina Schiechtl for the trip to Lisbon.
“They have beaten teams like Juventus in the league phase, which alone shows what caliber of opponent is waiting for us,” Kenesei told Ligaportal. He emphasized that his squad must maintain high intensity and focus on set-piece opportunities, an area where he believes the team has shown strength throughout their European campaign.
Following Thursday’s match, Austria Wien faces a challenging schedule, with upcoming fixtures against Bayern Munich at home and Manchester City away.
The postponement of the Champions League match has necessitated further changes to the club’s calendar. Due to the shift to Thursday, Austria Wien’s domestic league match against Salzburg, originally slated for Saturday, must now be rescheduled. Sky Sport Austria reports that league officials are currently searching for an alternative date for that fixture.
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