The two top teams Barcelona and OL Lyonnes started the league phase with convincing victories.
We summarize what happened on the second evening on matchday 1.
Chelsea – Austria Vienna 1:0
Chelsea owed their narrow victory at the start of the league phase to Wieke Kaptein and the post. Kaptein scored a stunning first-half opener with a shot into the top corner – the only goal in an action-packed game at AFC Wimbledon Stadium.
Melvine Malard and Alyssa Thompson almost extended Chelsea’s lead, while Louise Schöffel shot narrowly wide for the brave visitors. Further chances from Sjoeke Nüsken and Sandy Baltimore for Chelsea were saved before Modesta Uka slammed the ball onto the post for Austria Wien.
Player of the game: Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea)
Barcelona – Paris FC 5:2
The Spaniards started their mission to defend their title with an impressive victory. Paris initially shocked the hosts in the fifth minute when Evelyne Viens hammered the ball under the crossbar, before the four-time champions really got going thanks to a remarkable finish from Kerolin and a crisp volley from Clara Serrajordi.
Ewa Pajor converted a cross from Caroline Graham Hansen to make it 3-1, and shortly afterwards the two combined again, with the Norway international hammering the ball into the bottom corner just before half-time. Pajor scored her second goal of the night from close range with 20 minutes left, but visiting captain Clara Mateo responded shortly afterwards after a quick counterattack.
Player of the game: Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
OH Leuven – Roma 0:0
Substitute Marta Pandini missed Roma’s best chance when her penalty hit the post in the final stages. The Giallorosse midfielder shot the ball low against the post while Leuven goalkeeper Lowiese Seynhaeve had already jumped to the other corner.
Player of the game: Jada Conijnenberg (OH Leuven)
Servette – OL Lyonnes 0:8
Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored a hat-trick as last season’s finalists made a statement in Geneva. Servette fell behind after just eight minutes when Laia Ballesté scored an own goal before Katoto scored her first goal of the evening after around half an hour.
From that point on, the hosts no longer had a real answer. OL Lyonnes were already leading 6-0 after an hour, with Katoto completing her hat-trick and Melchie Dumornay scoring a brace, including a superb chip. A second own goal from Magdalena Sobal and substitute Ines Benyahia’s late strike rounded off the team’s biggest win ever in the league phase.
Player of the game: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (OL Lyonnes)
Tuesday results of the 1st matchday:
Bayern Munich – Manchester City 2:2
Inter – Hecken 1:0
Arsenal – HB Køge Women 1:0
Juventus – Benfica 1:2
Real Madrid – Paris Saint-Germain 1:1
