10 Things We Learned From The women’s Champions League Games This Week | OneFootball

The women’s Champions League continued this week and here are the 10 things we learned from a thrilling matchday 2.

10. Real Madrid won’t go down in the Champions League without a fight

While they have never won the Champions League, Real Madrid are still a threat in the competition.

Los Blancos maintained their 100% record in the competition this year with a win against PSG on matchday 2.

The visitors were 2-0 up at the break courtesy of goals from Naomie Feller and Alba Redondo. PSG did provide some late fight with a goal after half time but it proved to be merely a consolation.

Madrid haven’t been able to advance past the quarter-finals despite their team’s quality.

There is no doubt that the Spanish club has the talent within its ranks to go far in the Champions League, but they always seem to falter when they come up against Europe’s best.

Pau Quesada’s team will face off against Arsenal later in the league phase as they look to get revenge for last year’s knockout defeat.

9. Kika Nazareth could be Barcelona’s next superstar

Barcelona have no shortage of talent in their team and Kika Nazareth could be the latest superstar to break out.

The Portuguese striker scored three goals in Liga F last year but already she is closing in on that tally after just five appearances.

Nazareth has two goals in the league so far, but it is her form in the Champions League that is continuing to turn heads.

The 22-year-old netted in Europe for the first time this season as Barcelona thrashed Roma.

In her eight Champions League games for Barcelona so far, Nazareth has four goals and one assist in what has been a consistent run for the young star.

There is no doubting Nazareth’s talents and she stepped up big time as a replacement for Ewa Pajor, who is expected to be out for up to six weeks with a serious knee injury.

8. Wolfsburg could be dark horses in Europe

While Bayern are the obvious pick to go far in Europe out of the German sides involved, it is Wolfsburg who have been catching the eye.

The club has finished second in the league to Bayern for three years in a row and after they lost to their rivals in the league last week, Wolfsburg were desperate to get back on track in the Champions League.

Lineth Beerensteyn put Wolfsburg ahead just before the hour mark but Valerenga quickly responded only two minutes later with an equaliser.

It looked as if the Germans would be heading home disappointed from their second Champions League matchday but Janina Minge came to the rescue late on.

The midfielder converted a crucial penalty deep into stoppage time as her club continued their win streak in Europe.

Wolfsburg just seem to always find a way to win in Europe and their resilience could prove to be invaluable when they come up against one of the competition favourites.

7. Alyssa Thompson could be the key to Chelsea’s Champions League glory

Chelsea are fully focused on winning the women’s Champions League this season once again as they look to break their duck in the competition.

New Blues star Alyssa Thompson could be the key to the club finally finding success in Europe.

Thompson joined Chelsea in a club-record deal this year, with Angel City receiving £1.1million for their superstar winger.

This week in the Champions League Thompson proved why she was worth her enormous price tag. The American international grabbed a goal and an assist against Paris FC as she showcased her talents on the left wing.

The 20-year-old could be the answer to all of Chelsea’s problems in Europe with Thompson’s bright spark adding another layer of danger to the team’s attack.

6. Manchester United could be the real deal this year

There has been a lot made of Manchester United this season with financial issues limiting the club to very few signings in summer.

Despite having one of the thinnest squads in the WSL, United are proving that they are still a force to be reckoned with both in England and in Europe.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in the league after six games and sit just behind Chelsea and Manchester City in the table, with Arsenal and Tottenham lurking in behind.

Marc Skinner’s team are continuing to prove that they are as good as they look and their Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid felt like a huge one.

Jayde Riviere and Fridolina Rolfö celebrate 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid

There was no shortage of action in the game despite only one goal, as Dominique Janssen and Alexia Fernández Díaz were both shown a red card leaving the teams with 10 players each by the 75th minute.

United held on for a gritty 1-0 win against their Spanish opponents and as a result gained their first win in Europe. While they may not be able to win the competition, United’s recent performances suggest they do have what it takes to go far in the competition.

5. Chelsea’s dip in form was just a blip

There were some concerns surrounding Chelsea’s form in the past month as the six-time reigning WSL champions dropped points in back to back games.

Despite some people being worried about the Blues, Sonia Bompastor has remained ever confident during a difficult run and her faith was repaid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Bompastor’s team got a much needed win against Paris FC before the international break starts but it would’ve been a huge shock if they had dropped points to the French side.

It was crucial that the Blues picked up three points in Europe this week after drawing against Twente in a shock on matchday one.

The Champions League is the one trophy that has continued to elude Chelsea despite their domestic dominance in England, but it isn’t the group stage where they usually falter and a clash against Barcelona on matchday four will be a much more realistic test of their abilities.

4. Lyon are still the same force of old

There was never much doubt over this one, but Lyon have proved in their two Champions League games so far that they are still the same force of old.

The eight-time champions edged past Arsenal on matchday one in a huge result and they continued their good form with a dominant win against St. Polten on Wednesday.

Lyon had a whopping 78% possession against their Austrian opponents and they were relentless going forward in their 3-0 win.

Jule Brand, Ada Hegerberg and Lily Yohannes were on the scoresheet as the reigning French champions made a statement win in a competition they haven’t won since 2022.

Having not won the Champions League in three years Lyon will be desperate to get back on top in Europe and their two wins so far have given plenty of evidence that they could get back on top this season.

Lyon face another team with a 100% record in the Champions League on the next matchday as they host Wolfsburg who have looked impressive so far.

3. Fridolina Rolfo is a great signing

If it wasn’t already apparent, we found out this week just how good a signing Fridolina Rolfo could shape out to be.

The Manchester United defender netted her first goal for the club against Atletico Madrid. Rolfo’s strike ended up being the winner as United held on grimly to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League.

Rolfo’s goal itself was a belter, as the Swedish international chested a cross down at the back post before smashing into the roof of the net from close range.

United acquired the 31-year-old’s from Barcelona for free in the summer after her contract with Barcelona was terminated.

After missing the start of the season while she had fitness concerns, Rolfo has come into the United team as a reliable presence at the back and she looks likely to be one of the best summer signings.

2. Barcelona are playing like the favourites

There is no surprise that the formidable Barcelona are firm favourites to win the Champions League this year.

The team will feel robbed of last year’s title after Arsenal crushed their dreams of a three-peat with a dramatic 1-0 win in the final.

Barcelona still have an incredible recent record in the competition though, winning the Champions League in three of the last five years.

It was Roma that felt the full force of Barca’s attack on the second matchday. The Italians did all they could throughout a game where their defence was bombarded from start to finish.

But there was never any doubt about Barcelona’s attack. The Catalan side scored early through Esmee Gruts and goals from Kika Nazareth, Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen followed for a convincing 4-0 win.

Barcelona still have a 100% record in all competitions this year and they sit top of the Champions League group stage table with Oud-Heverlee Leuven up next.

1. Beth Mead is still important to Arsenal

This one might sound obvious but in summer Beth Mead was heavily linked with a move away from Arsenal. London City Lionesses were interested in securing the forward but despite a ‘significant bid’ from the newly promoted side, Mead decided to stay with the Gunners.

Olivia Smith signed for Arsenal in a club-record – and at the time world-record – fee which has limited Mead’s minutes at the start of the season.

The 30-year-old has started both Champions League games this season as a result of both Smith and Chloe Kelly’s arrival in summer and she already has a goal and an assist to her name.

On Thursday Arsenal looked in danger of drawing their second game in Europe, until Mead stepped up in the 57th minute with a crucial goal to put her team in front.

The goal was Mead’s first of the campaign in but she also has four assists in all competitions.

Despite almost leaving just two months ago, the England international is still proving that she is valuable to Arsenal who took an early step towards defending their title with a 2-0 win.