Women’s Champions League — Barcelona lays down marker, Arsenal slips up
Claudia Pina (left) made the points safe early in the second period, before Graham Hansen completed her brace to bring her tally to three already in the tournament. | Photo Credit: AP
Claudia Pina (left) made the points safe early in the second period, before Graham Hansen completed her brace to bring her tally to three already in the tournament. | Photo Credit: AP
Barcelona continued its emphatic start to its Women’s Champions League title defence by brushing aside Roma 6-0 in the Italian capital on Wednesday, while a bizarre penalty incident caused Arsenal to squander a two-goal lead at Paris FC.
The Catalans are showing no signs of missing ex-star Alexia Putellas, who joined the London City Lionesses in the close-season, as they now boost six points from two league phase outings and 11 goals scored.
Caroline Graham Hansen netted in last week’s opening 5-2 win at home to Paris FC, and she got Barca off the mark in Rome inside 20 minutes.
A Shukurat Oladipo own goal put the visitor two-up before the break.
Claudia Pina made the points safe early in the second period, before Graham Hansen completed her brace to bring her tally to three already in the tournament.
Pina then netted again in the final quarter of an hour and Ewa Pajor put the cherry on the cake late on.
After an unconvincing win at home to HB Koge courtesy of an injury-time Mariona Caldentey penalty in matchday one, 2025 champion Arsenal found itself on the other end of a late spot-kick call as Paris FC fought back to hold it to a 2-2 draw.
Goals just either side of the interval from Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway put Arsenal in control in the French capital.
Clara Mateo reduced the deficit in the 71st minute for the Parisians.
Renee Slegers’s side looked set to be able to hold its opponents at arm’s length but a momentary lapse by captain Leah Williamson undid the Gunners with just three minutes remaining.
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Goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez popped the ball down inside the six-yard box and passed it over to the England defender, who handled it to readjust prior to taking a goal-kick.
Referee Iuliana Demetrescu adjudged the ball already to be in play and pointed to the spot, from where Maeline Mendy made no mistake to ensure the spoils were shared.
Record eight-time winner OL Lyonnes survived two potential penalty calls that was denied by a VAR intervention to hold on to a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea.
Last season’s finallist could have won the match if not for Salma Paralluelo’s strike being disallowed for offside.
Bayern Munich romped to a 3-0 win at Benfica thanks to goals from Klara Buehl, Pernille Harder and Franziska Kett.
Juventus downed Hacken 3-0 in Sweden to bounce back from last Tuesday’s defeat against Benfica.
Published on Oct 01, 2026
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