Women’s Champions League round-up: Barcelona hand out 9-0 humbling to Benfica, Juventus ease past Zurich 2-0

Barcelona recorded their biggest ever win in the Champions League with a 9-0 hammering of Benfica.

The Blaugrana – featuring England’s Lucy Bronze – were ruthless from the first whistle in Catalonia, with Patricia Guijarro putting them ahead with just seconds gone.

Aitana Bonmati and Asisat Oshoala made it 3-0 at the break, before the goals really began to stream in.

Six strikes followed, courtesy of Mariona Caldentey, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, Geyse (2), Claudia Pina and Oshoala again, as a poor Benfica side were mercilessly punished at Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Barcelona, for whom Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas was in attendance, were beaten finalists in last season’s Champions League, and on this evidence they look like they have a score to settle.

Elsewhere, Juventus beat Zurich 2-0 in Group C with Valentina Cernoia and Barbara Bonansea on target at Wefox Arena. The visitors were dominant throughout in all the game’s typical metrics, and deservedly took home their first three points of the European season.

The Gunners’ extraordinary result will have sent a message around Europe that this team are contenders for the continent’s showpiece crown, especially as it came away from home against a team with such a recent trophy-laden palmares.

Back in Barcelona’s Group D, Bayern Munich saw off Rosengard 2-0 courtesy of goals from Carolin Simon and Linda Dallmann.