The 2025-26 UEFA Girls’s Champions League kicked off on Tuesday with the league section, and the brand new period did not disappoint. There have been heavyweight clashes and large particular person performances, setting an exhilarating tone for an thrilling season forward. The opening night time was headlined by a marquee rematch of final season’s semifinal between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, and this time the French membership defeated the Gunners 2-1.
Elsewhere, Champions League regulars FC Barcelona made a stellar assertion in opposition to German giants Bayern Munich with a convincing 7-1 victory. Opening week continues with extra video games on Wednesday, as Chelsea FC open in opposition to Twente, and Paris Saint-Germain meet Wolfsburg. CBS Sports activities is the official dwelling of the UWCL, and followers can watch each match throughout Paramount+ with choose video games on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community.
Scores
Juventus 2, Benfica 1
OL Lyonnes 2, Arsenal 1
Barcelona 7, Bayern Munich 1
Paris FC 2, OH Leuven 2
Juventus vs. Benfica
Serie A facet Juventus bought off to a strong begin within the league section. Loads of exercise in harmful areas by veterans Cristina Girelli and Barbara Bonansea, but it surely was defender Cecilia Salvai who was the star of the match.
The 2 targets are Salvai’s first of her profession and her first targets within the UWCL in 28 appearances for the 31-year-old defender. Bonansea recorded her seventh UWCL profession help.
Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes
Present title holders Arsenal drew an enormous problem with their opening league section recreation in opposition to eight-time Champions League winners OL Lyonnes. The North London facet have a goal on them as they navigate the brand new match format, and there is perhaps a little bit of fortune in dealing with their hardest opponent early within the competitors.
Regardless of an early opening purpose by Alessia Russo, her eleventh profession UWCL purpose, the Gunners instantly felt the stress from OL. An enormous momentum shift by Haitian worldwide Melchie Dumornay was the distinction maker. The ahead scored two targets in 5 minutes to zap any management of the sport that Arsenal had within the first half.
The French facet cranked up the assault and Arsenal’s defensive efforts to maintain the attacking waves paid off. Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar delivered a double save in stoppage time to maintain the sport slim and permit the squad to regroup at halftime.
Regardless of spectacular attacking collaboration between Melchie Dumornay, Kadidiatou Diani, Marie Antoinette Katoto, and Tabitha Chawinga, the ending betrayed them. Arsenal’s elevated effort within the second half stifled among the potential threats, but it surely by no means translated into the additional momentum for an equalizer. begin for OL’s journey again to the knockouts whereas Arsenal’s questionable type continues.
FC Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich
Final season’s runners-up FC Barcelona stepped into their opening league section match with a function. The Catalonian facet made a press release of their 7-1 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Midfielder Alexia Putellas kicked off the goalscoring with a stunner from distance simply 4 minutes into the sport.
Bayern Munich had zero solutions for the Champions League juggernauts, down 5-1 by halftime.
“That is an absolute nightmare from Bayern. I truthfully anticipated a lot extra from them, however they’re simply they’re delicate. They don’t seem to be defending. They’re late to each play. They’re permitting Barcelona on a regular basis in area. They don’t seem to be slicing off the passing lanes. It is only a nightmare. They gotta alter,” mentioned UWCL analyst Janelly Farias throughout halftime.
Sadly, the changes previous the hour mark weren’t sufficient for the Bavarian squad. They conceded two extra targets in a sloppy, horrible efficiency and so they have been by no means within the combine. The membership’s lone purpose scorer, Klara Buhl, emphasised the necessity for a greater efficiency by the group.
“It was actually exhausting. We thought that we may have possibly a bit extra of the ball, that we had our personal actions to get to the purpose, to get some possibilities. However yeah, I feel this night time, it is, it is actually, actually robust. They performed the good recreation. They created lots of possibilities, and we have been simply, yeah, a bit passive each time we went too late. I feel this was one, yeah, I feel that we weren’t ok,” Buhl mentioned.
“I feel that is Champions League, and that is, that is the benefit of it, that we have now opponents. They’re nice, they’re the very best stage. In fact, we need to play these video games, however another way. However I feel that is why we have now to mirror on it. We now have to take the appropriate options out of it, after which put together for the subsequent recreation and present a unique face.”
Paris FC vs. OH Leuven
UEFA Girls’s Champions League debutants OH Leuven checked off a number of match firsts and marked their arrival with a come-from-behind draw in opposition to Paris FC. The primary-ever Belgian facet to compete within the match rallied within the second half to earn their first level of the competitors.
What’s subsequent
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Twente vs. Chelsea, 12:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Actual Madrid vs. Roma, 12:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Man Utd vs. Vålerenga, 3 p.m. (Paramount+)
St. Pölten vs. Atlético de Madrid, 3 p.m. (Paramount+)
Wolfsburg vs. PSG 3 p.m. (Paramount+)
Paramount+ will probably be a one-stop store for all issues Champions League, whereas CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community may have choose matches and extra protection. Every day’s broadcast begins with UEFA Girls’s Champions League Right now on each Paramount+ and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community earlier than the early kickoffs, whereas Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network may have an hour-long pre-match present earlier than the later matches. Put up-match protection will air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, whereas CBS Sports activities Golazo Community may have a brand new version of Scoreline to shut out the day’s motion.
CBS Sports activities’ new UEFA Girls’s Champions League Right now studio present will probably be anchored by Hannah Money, whereas Jen Beattie, Janelly Farias, Darian Jenkins, Kelley O’Hara, and Ali Riley will function analysts. Chris Wittyngham will deal with play-by-play duties and will probably be paired with Beattie and Jenkins, whereas Anita Jones will report pitchside and Christina Unkel will function the foundations analyst.
