Defending champions Arsenal will be looking to get their UEFA Women's Champions League title defence rolling when they travel to Lisbon to take on Benfica on Thursday.
Arsenal started their 2025-26 campaign with a loss to record-winners OL Lyonnes (better known simply as Lyon). Alessio Russo opened the scoring early, but Lyon turned it around thanks to a Melchie Dumornay brace.
Up next is a Benfica team smarting from a narrow 2-1 loss of their own, against Juventus.
Lucia Alves scored the opener for the Portuguese champs but a Cecilia Salvai brace (the second coming in the 86th minute) meant they are yet to get off the mark. Having not cleared the league phase last time around, they will be determined to improve this season and what better way would there be to signal intent than taking down the reigning champions?
Considering Arsenal's teetering form and Benfica's formidable home record, this could be a tighter match that one would have predicted when the schedule was announced.
Here is everything you need to know ahead Thursday's clash:
How to watch:
All 75 matches from the competition will be broadcast live on Disney+ in the UK and Europe, while CBS will broadcast games in the United States and FanCode will cover the games in India. You can also follow ESPN updates right here.
The highlights from the Women's Champions League can be found on ESPN's digital platforms in the UK and Europe.
Key Details:
Date: Thursday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET, 12.30 am IST on Friday)
Venue: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
Referee: Miriama Bočková (Poland)
VAR: Michal Očenáš (Slovakia)
Team News
Benfica
Nycole Raysla, F: OUT (injured in this weekend's league win against Valadares Gaia).
Arsenal
Leah Williamson, D: OUT (long term, injured in the 2025 Euros).
Stats:
Benfica haven't lost at home in a competitive fixture of any kind since September 2024 (a 0-2 loss to Hammarby in UWCL qualifying).
Arsenal have won only one of their last five games (this weekend's narrow 1-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion, which came courtesy a Marisa Olislagers own goal incidentally).
Latest news and analysis:
- Women's Champions League on Disney+: Schedule, format, more
Everything you need to know about this year's Women's Champions League, which will be streamed entirely on Disney+.
- Arsenal beat Brighton, end four-game winless streak
The Gunners came into the contest without a win in their last three WSL matches and a midweek UWCL defeat.
- Arsenal to blame for Champions League loss to Lyonnes in competition opener
OL Lyonnes forward Melchie Dumornay showed Arsenal exactly what happens when you orchestrate your own demise against a team that is hungry to prove that they're still one of the best in Europe.
- UWCL talking points: Why did Chelsea, Arsenal struggle? Is Dumornay world-class?
Emily Keogh, Julien Laurens and Sam Marsden answer some of our burning questions after the first round of the UEFA Women's Champions League.