UEFA Women’s Champions League round-up: Barcelona defeat Benfica 5-0 as Lyon put NINE goals past Slavia Prague

Barcelona got their defence of the UEFA Women’s Champions League off to a flying start, claiming a comfortable 5-0 victory against Benfica.

Ahead of the game, the side showed off their recent Ballon d’Or women’s team of the season trophy to fans inside the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

While it was a slow start for the European champions, with Jessica Silva testing them early on when firing a shot over the bar, they rallied with Alexia Putellas getting the first goal after 15 minutes.

It was her first of the night, heading in a deflected shot from Caroline Graham Hansen, who drove through the Benfica defence to get a shot away.

Putellas headed in but looked as though she had picked up an injury scoring the goal, before stepping off the pitch to receive some treatment.

Benfica seemed to take their feet off the gas later in the first half and Barcelona doubled their lead, after María Pilar Leon drifted a long cross into the box, with Esmee Brugts heading down towards the goal.

Putellas would arrive to tap the ball in, but was subsequently taken off, with Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez unable to give an update on the severity of her injury after the match.

He told DAZN: “I was talking with the doctor at half-time and he told me we had to take her off. I don’t know [on her status] right now but we have no news.”

Aitana Bonmati would get the third just before half-time, arriving in the box to meet a great cross from Graham Hansen on the right side, before hammering past the goalkeeper.

After the match, Bonmati, who also claimed the women’s player of the year award at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, admitted her happiness after their excellent start.

“It’s good to start the season of the Champions League like this with our people here and scoring five goals. This is our goal today and we’ll keep going for more,” Bonmati said to DAZN.

Bonmati struck again after the break, with Graham Hansen providing another assist before Bonmati fired into the bottom-left corner.

A stunning overhead kick from Asisat Oshoala would see the hosts seal a 5-0 victory in the 60th minute.

It was a dominant performance from Lyon, who put nine goals past Slavia Prague in Czech Republic.

Lyon found themselves 6-0 up at half-time with Sara Dabritz opening the scoring in the first three minutes, firing past Olivie Lukasova with an excellent right-footed shot.

Danielle van de Donk would tap in a second, scrambling in Kadidiatou Diani’s cross after 14 minutes. Vanessa Gilles headed in a rebound from Ada Hegerberg to put the away side 3-0 up within 20 minutes, before Eugenie Le Sommer would add another.

Having set up Van de Donk for Lyon’s second, Diani would get two of her own – beating several defenders to head in a fantastic cross before heading in from a corner.

After half-time, Hegerberg would get the seventh from the penalty spot after she was pulled down inside the area.

Gilles would get her second of the night, glancing in a header from a corner to seal a 9-0 win for the French outfit.

Despite conceding in the 94th minute, Eintracht Frankfurt completed a 2-1 win against Rosengard to get their Champions League campaign off to a great start.

A brilliant piece of play from Nicole Anyomi saw the forward win the ball back inside the Rosengard penalty area, before laying off to Tanja Pawollek outside the box. She arrived onto the pass to hit a stunning long-range, left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner of the goal.

Frankfurt would again capitalise on another excellent piece of pressure play in the 84th minute with Laura Freigang receiving the ball inside the Rosengard penalty area before laying off to Barbara Dunst, who fired into the bottom-right corner for their second.

Frankfurt looked in control of the game but will be disappointed after conceding in the fourth minute of injury time, with Olivia Schough tapping in at the far post after several defensive errors at the back.

Frankfurt are back in league action against Nurnberg on Saturday before they host Barcelona in what is set to be a huge European clash the following Wednesday.

Natasha Ansai scored a 79th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory for Brann against St Polten.

The away side had failed to make the group stages of the tournament last season but got their 2023-24 campaign off to a bright start, going a goal up against St Polten in the second half.

Signe Gaupset would battle her way to the byline before crossing into Rakel Engesvik who tapped in for their first after 57 minutes.

St Polten would get an equaliser just 10 minutes later with Maria Mikolajova firing in a stunning long-range effort from around 25 yards, catching Aurora Mikalsen in goal off guard.

But Brann would ultimately claim the three points, with Ansai arriving in the penalty area to head home a 79th-minute corner to seal the win.

Brann now sit second in the group on goal difference and host Slavia Prague next Wednesday.

The action continues on Wednesday, with Real Madrid hosting Cheslea – live on TNT Sports.

Real Madrid v Chelsea will be live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate with coverage from 20:00 UK time on Wednesday, November 15.