Second Champions League gameweek sees victories for all three WSL sides

Game week 2 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League got underway on the 15th of October. After very different opening fixtures for the 3 WSL representatives, all managed to pick up victories in their second fixture of the freshly formatted UWCL.

Despite taking home the win, Arsenal were far from convincing

The titleholders of the competition got their campaign up and running after a disappointing defeat last week to OL Lyonnes. They took on Benfica away from home and left with all three points, winning 0-2. A scramble in the area saw forward Beth Mead poke home in the 57th minute to open the scoring, and a cleverly worked set piece saw Alessia Russo get her name on the scoresheet in minute 87, sealing the deal for the Gunners. Despite taking home the win, Arsenal were far from convincing, with Benfica relentlessly battling, and goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar having to pull out some top drawer saves to keep the advantage with the North London club. UEFA awarded Player of the Match to midfielder Mariona, who admitted that Arsenal need to be “more consistent defensively” and “score more goals” to improve upon their recent lacklustre performances.

Elsewhere, domestic champions Chelsea also picked up their first three points of the campaign. After an uncharacteristic draw in game week 1 vs Dutch side FC Twente, the Blues got back on track with a convincing 4-0 win over Paris FC. A neatly dispatched spot-kick from Sandy Baltimore in the 31st minute got Chelsea up and running, and not long after a looping header from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd saw the home side double their advantage. On the other side of the break, club record signing Alyssa Thompson starred, striking next to open her Champions League account, followed up by a goal mouth scramble which saw the ball eventually bundled in by Erin Cuthbert, securing the West London outfit all three points at Stamford Bridge, befitting of such a dominant performance. Captain Millie Bright spoke post-match that “I think tonight we got our mojo back… it’s a really good way to end another block”.

Manchester United currently sit in 5th place of the brand new league format of the UWCL table

Despite this season being their first in Europe, Manchester United remain the only English club to maintain an 100% win record in the Champions League thus far. Following on from a 1-0 victory over Vålerenga, they continued their fine run of form with another 0-1 victory away vs Atletico Madrid. Despite going down to ten with a controversial red card decision in the 41st minute going against defender Dominique Janssen, who had fouled Atletico forward Gio Garbelini with a reckless challenge, Manchester United managed to hold on to their lead, which they took in the 24th minute with a sublime volley from Fridolina Rolfö. Manchester United did not play the full 90 as the only team with 10 players however, as Atletico’s Alexia Fernández was sent off with a second yellow card offence in the 71st minute after a late challenge on Leah Galton. Manager Mark Skinner remarked that he was proud of his players who “showed tremendous character as a team” to withstand Atletico’s attack.

Manchester United currently sit in 5th place of the brand new league format of the UWCL table, with maximum points from a possible 6, the highest of their country mates. Chelsea closely follow suit in 6th, with 4 points after two games, and Arsenal have some work to do if they are to catch up, currently placed in 9th with just the 3 points. They will take on PSG (H), St Pölten (A) and Bayern München (A) respectively on the other side of the international break.