Arsenal bounced back with a commanding 2-0 victory away at Benfica in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
The Gunners, who made a losing start to their Champions League title defence against Lyon last week, got off the mark at Estadio da Luz after a dominant second-half display was capped off by two goals.
The visitors dominated for long spells in the first half, but failed to test Lena Pauels in the hosts’ goal, with the best chances falling to As Aguias’ Diana Silva, whose 41st minute header forced Daphne van Domselaar to pull off a sublime stop to tip the ball around the post.
In the 50th minute, Russo watched on as she sent a glancing header just wide of the mark from a pinpoint Mariona Caldentey cross.
Just as it was beginning to look like another frustrating encounter for the reigning champions, a defensive mishap from Diana Gomes saw the ball ricochet off her left boot while attempting to deal with an Arsenal attack, as Mead’s interference sent the ball trickling into the back of the net.
Arsenal made sure in the dying embers, as a crafty Chloe Kelly free-kick snuck through to Russo who prodded past Pauels to double Arsenal’s advantage.
The Gunners’ first win in this season’s Women’s Champions League has pushed them up to 10th, while Benfica still remain winless in 15th.
Three points secured in Lisbon pic.twitter.com/GFkhx0eER5
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 16, 2025
Data Debrief: Mead and Russo inspire Arsenal win
Russo’s goal was her ninth in the Women’s Champions League for Arsenal and her second of this season’s competition, only one player has more in Europe’s showpiece tournament since the beginning of last season (Claudia Pina – 12).
Mead’s goal means she has now contributed to goals in her last three games in the Women’s Champions League (one goal, two assists).
Arsenal have now won five of their last seven away games (L1 D1) in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League; overall, the Gunners have found the back of the net at least once in each of their 10 away games in the group stage, Roma (10/10) and Brann (3/3) are the only other teams to score in every away game at this stage of the competition.
Benfica were unbeaten in their last three home games in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League (W2 D1), prior to Thursday’s defeat to Arsenal.