Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.6 2021/22

UEFA Women’s Champions League

History was made in the UEFA Women’s Champions
League as, for the first time, the last sixteen teams
played in a group stage with the opening round of
matches, but it wasn’t to be the greatest of starts for the
two FA WSL clubs involved.
Arsenal were first in action on Tuesday night
with a tough trip to holders FC Barcelona and this
proved to be the case as they were beaten 4-1. WSL
clubs have struggled against Spanish clubs in recent
seasons and this record continued as a superb Barcelona side went two ahead at the interval,
Mariona Caldentey and Alexis Putellas both scoring, and Asisat Oshoala made it three
against her former club after the break. Frida Maanum did pull a goal back for Arsenal but
substitute Lieke Martens sealed an impressive win with the final goal, six minutes from
time.
The other group match saw Hoffenheim win 5-0 against HB Koge, Tine De Caigny
scoring twice with the others coming from Katharina Naschenweng, Nicole Billa and Luana
Buhler.
Chelsea opened up against familiar opponents in VfL Wolfsburg and a dramatic
fightback from two behind saw them pick up a 3-3 draw. Sam Kerr’s early goal was cancelled
out by Tabea Wassmuth and Jill Roord put Die Wolfe ahead at the break. Wassmuth then
put Chelsea in trouble with her second goal but Beth England responded immediately and
increasing Chelsea pressure saw them salvage a point in injury time when Pernille Harder
equalised against her former club.
Juventus are the early leaders of Group A after they won 3-0 away to Servette.
Arianna Caruso gave Juve a first half lead and they went on to crown the win with further
goals after the break from Lina Hurtig and Valentina Cernoia.
Elsewhere, the big story of the night came in Olympique Lyonnais’ 3-0 win away
to Hacken, with the late appearance of substitute Ada Hegerberg, the former Ballon D’Or
winner making her comeback following 20 months out of action with a knee injury. Melvine
Malard and Catarina Macario both scored for Lyon along with an own goal. Lyon are the
opening day leaders in Group D after the other match between Benfica and Bayern
Munich ended in a goalless draw.
GROUP A P W D L F A Pts GD
Paris Saint Germain have got JUVENTUS 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 14
off to a good start in Group B, winning CHELSEA 1 0 1 0 3 3 1 5
2-0 away to Breidablik. Lea Khelifi put VFL WOLFSBURG 1 0 1 0 3 3 1 10
0
3
0
0
PSG in front in the seventeenth minute SERVETTE FCCF P 1 W D 1 L 0 F A Pts 1
GROUP B
and they sealed the points late on when
PARIS SAINT GERMAIN 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Grace Geyoro added the second goal. The REAL MADRID 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
other game in the group also resulted in WFC KHARKIV 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
an away win, Real Madrid beating BREIDABLIK 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
GROUP C P W D L F A Pts
Kharkiv 1-0 thanks to a goal shortly
HOFFENHEIM 1 1 0 0 5 0 3
before half time from Loreno Navarro.
FC BARCELONA 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 4
Matchday 2 in the group stages ARSENAL 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 -2
takes place next week, with Chelsea HB KOGE 1 0 0 1 0 5 0 4
playing away to Juventus on Wednesday GROUP D P W D L F A Pts -3
night and Arsenal playing host to OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 -4
BAYERN MUNICH 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 -9
Hoffenheim the following night. Both SL BENFICA 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 -10
matches are 8pm kick offs. BK HACKEN 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 -10
Issue no. 6 - 7 October 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk