The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) is back with it’s brand-new look. The expanded league phase promised early blockbuster clashes between Europe’s biggest clubs, and Matchday 1 delivered in full.
Across ten fixtures, we saw 39 goals, three Spanish sides hit six or more, and a few shocks sprinkled in for good measure.
Atlético, Real Madrid, and Barcelona scored 19 goals between them, while reigning champions Arsenal stumbled at home, Chelsea were held to a surprise draw at FC Twente, and debutants OH Leuven stunned Paris FC by snatching a point — and nearly all three.
Every Barcelona goal is well worth a watch? (They’re quite good, aren’t they?)
Reigning Champions started there defense with a limp defeat, and newcomers OH Lueven snatched a draw in their first every Champions league match, and could have won it/ Every single Barca goal is worth a watch (they are quite good arent they).
With Matchday 2 just around the corner, here’s your full breakdown – scores, goals, and key points.
VERTA’s UWCL Matchday 1 Picks
⚽️ Goal: Alexia Putellas 1st (Barcelona 7-1 Bayern Munich)
🚀 Game: Paris FC 2-2 OH Leuven (that last minute save) 😳
⭐️ Star: Linda Caicedo for her three assists and rampant display (Real Madrid 6-2 Roma)
Tue 7th Oct 25 | Allianz Stadium | Att: 4,497
Juventus left it late to come from behind and edge past Benfica 2–1, getting their group campaign off to a winning start in Turin.
Lucia Alves stunned the home crowd with a composed finish in just the 6th minute, after some slick build-up play from Benfica and a perfect cut-back from Nycole Raysla – punishing a sluggish Juventus backline.
As the Italian champions gradually found their rhythm, it was centre-back Cecilia Salvai who rose to the occasion. Gliding into the Benfica box unmarked, she powered a header beyond the goalkeeper from eight yards in the 22nd minute to bring Juve level.
Just a minute later, Benfica should have retaken the lead. However, Raysla’s audacious backheel somehow failed to find the net.
Juventus thought they had taken the lead in the 39th minute when Cristiana Girelli swept the ball home. Unfortunately for them, VAR intervened… ruling the goal out for the narrowest of offsides.
From that point on, Juve controlled the game. However, they struggled to convert their dominance into goals. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that they finally broke through – and once again, it was Salvai at the heart of it. The defender reacted quickest to a loose ball following a corner, poking home a volley to break Benfica hearts and seal a hard-fought victory.
The Serie A champions now head to Munich looking to build on this gritty opening win. For Benfica, it doesn’t get any easier with a home time vs Arsenal up next.
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Tue 7th Oct 25 | Meadow Park | Att: 3,023
Arsenal got their Champions League title defence off to a frustrating start, surrendering an early lead to fall 2–1 at home to a clinical Lyon side.
The Gunners started brightly and struck inside seven minutes. Alessia Russo latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Beth Mead and made no mistake, firing low past Christiane Endler to ignite the Meadow Park crowd.
But their joy was short-lived. In the 18th minute, Daphne van Domselaar gifted Lyon their equaliser. Attempting to play out from the back, the Dutch goalkeeper passed the ball straight to Melchie Dumornay, who at the 2nd attempt powered a low shot into the net to bring the French champions level.
Just five minutes later, the Haitian international struck again. Another Arsenal error playing out from deep was punished in ruthless fashion. The ball rebounded to Dumornay who curled a superb finish into the top corner to turn the match on its head.
From that point on, Arsenal struggled to regain control or mount any meaningful fightback. Consequently, they rarely threatened in the second half. Their best opportunity of the second half fell to Mariona Caldentey in the 53rd minute, but her strike was well saved by Endler.
Arsenal will need to tighten up ahead of next week’s trip to Benfica, while Lyon can approach a home tie against St. Pölten with confidence.
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Tue 7th Oct 25 | Estadi Johan Cruyff | Att: 4,409
Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling Bayern Munich 7–1 in a ruthless, rampant display at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
It took just three minutes for the reigning Liga F champions to find their rhythm. Alexia Putellas intercepted a misplaced Bayern pass and curled in a stunning strike from the edge of the box to set the tone.
Ewa Pajor doubled the lead in the 12th minute with a clinical scissor-kick finish at the far post, and by the 27th, it was three – Esmee Brugts danced through the Bayern defence before smashing the ball high into the net.
The visitors responded with a brief moment of resistance. Klara Bühl pulled one back in the 32nd minute with a composed finish on the counter, but it did little to stem the tide.
Barcelona restored their three-goal cushion on the stroke of half-time. Salma Paralluelo latched onto a diagonal ball and rifled a low shot past Grohs, giving the Catalan side a 4–1 lead at the break.
The second half brought more of the same. Pajor grabbed her second and Barcelona’s fifth in the 56th minute, showing sharp movement and composure inside the area – the gulf in class now unmistakable. The contest was over.
The final act belonged to substitute Clàudia Pina, who struck twice late on. Her first came in the 88th minute after Vicky López surged forward with a breathtaking 60-yard run, before setting her up for a cool finish. Pina added her second in stoppage time to cap a night of total domination.
Bayern will look to recover at home against Juventus next week, while Barcelona travel to Roma with their confidence sky-high.
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Tue 7th Oct 25 | Stadi Charlety | Att: 1,132
Paris FC were left frustrated after throwing away a two-goal lead at home in a 2–2 draw with debutants OH Leuven.
The hosts made a blistering start. Inside three minutes, Corboz arrived in the box to guide home a low cross They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. Ocean Picard threaded a ball into Laurina Mateo, who calmly finished low into the far corner.
At 2–0, it looked like a routine evening for Paris. However, that was far from the case. The second half brought a complete shift in energy. Leuven came out with purpose, pressing high and playing with confidence. Within 17 minutes, they had pulled themselves level.
Sixteen-year-old Kadihya De Ceuster cut the ball back across the box for Kim Everaerts, who tucked in the first reply. Then just after the hour, Sara Pusztai completed the comeback with a curling strike from the far post – expertly placed.
Remarkably, Leuven nearly won it in stoppage time. De Ceuster was clean through but denied by Marques in goal. What a night that would have been for the teenager.
Paris must now regroup before a daunting trip to Chelsea. Leuven return home to host FC Twente with real belief.
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Wed 8th Oct 25 | De Grolsch Veste | Att: 4,193
Chelsea were held to a surprising and frustrating 1–1 draw by a determined and ambitious Twente side on home soil.
Chelsea dominated possession throughout. Nevertheless, carelessness at the back gave Twente several goalscoring opportunities. Bompastor’s side pushed high, but found clear-cut chances scarce. Twente defended bravely and kept their structure under sustained pressure.
Twente grew in confidence after the break and struck first. In the 63rd minute, Danique van Ginkel rifled in a shot from the edge of the box that soared into the top corner. Her finish gave the Dutch side a surprise lead and demanded an immediate response from Chelsea.
Just eight minutes later, Chelsea found a way back. After sustained pressure, Guro Reiten was brought down inside the box, earning a penalty which Sandy Baltimore converted calmly.
Chelsea pressed hard in the final 20 minutes. However, Twente held firm with disciplined defending and key interceptions in dangerous areas.
Next up, Chelsea host Paris FC knowing they must improve – anything less than a win would leave qualification hopes under pressure. Twente, meanwhile, travel to OH Leuven in what should be a more manageable fixture on paper.
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Wed 8th Oct 25 | Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium | Att: 1,440
Real Madrid overwhelmed Roma with a dominant 6–2 victory, recovering from a brief first-half comeback to open their campaign in style.
Madrid struck early. In the 6th minute, Athenea del Castillo Redondo pounced on a loose ball from a corner and fired confidently past the keeper.
Roma hit back against the run of play. In the 16th minute, Èvelyne Viens headed in from close range after a tidy cross from Alayah Pilgrim. Just six minutes later, Madrid were back in front. Caroline Weir bundled her way through the Roma defence before finding the top corner with power.
But on 35 minutes, the game was level again. Emilie Haavi carried the ball from just inside Madrid’s half and unleashed a brilliant strike into the top corner. Madrid regained control just before the break. In the 42nd minute, Redondo broke in behind the defence and finished calmly past the onrushing keeper.
After half-time, Madrid turned on the style. Maëlle Lakrar made it 4–2 in the 53rd minute, side-footing in a cross-come-shot following a corner. Six minutes later, Weir struck again. Her composed touch and classy finish pushed Madrid further ahead as Roma’s collapse became complete.
The final word belonged to Lucía Navarro, who made it 6–2 in the 73rd minute – heading in Linda Caicedo’s pinpoint cross. It was Caicedo’s third assist of the night.
Another dominant display from a Spanish side. Madrid travel to PSG next. Roma will host Barcelona, hoping their Spanish nightmare doesn’t continue.
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Manchester United beat Vålerenga 1–0 in a tense contest to mark their first ever Champions League proper match with a deserved victory. It capped a long road through five rounds of qualifying to reach this group-stage debut.
The hosts started brightly and moved the ball with intent. Vålerenga had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline level early on.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute. A handball by Eiriksdóttir gave United a penalty, which Maya Le Tissier buried with confidence. She sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, giving United a lead they rarely looked like surrendering for the rest of the match.
From that moment onward, the Reds controlled proceedings. Several opportunities to extend the lead followed, but the finishing touch was just missing.
Vålerenga never really looked like scoring. United’s back four and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce were composed and largely untroubled throughout.
Next up, United head to face a free-scoring Atlético Madrid. Vålerenga, meanwhile, face German giants Wolfsburg in what promises to be another stern test.
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Wolfsburg kicked off their group stage campaign with a convincing 4–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG started sharply and moved the ball well in the opening minutes, but it was Wolfsburg who struck first. In the 7th minute, Jackie Groenen turned the ball into her own net under pressure from an in-swinging corner.
Wolfsburg doubled their lead just before half-time. In the 42nd minute, Ella Peddemors met Svenja Huth’s low cut-back and finished with conviction.
PSG responded after the break and created several chances, but Wolfsburg had more cutting edge when it mattered. Stina Johannes delivering a composed performance in goal, keeping PSG at bay during their best spells.
Fatigue showed late on for the visitors. In the 90th minute, Alexandra Popp headed in from close range after a deflected cross. Five minutes into stoppage time, Janina Minge converted a penalty after a handball – the icing on the cake for the German hosts.
Wolfsburg now head to Vålerenga expecting another strong result. PSG return home to face Real Madrid, still searching for their first point.
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Atlético Madrid dismantled St. Pölten 6–0 in Austria to round off a perfect Matchday 1 for Spain’s Champions League sides.
The visitors set the tone early. Giovanna Garbelini opened the scoring in the 5th minute, breaking in behind the defence and finishing low after a swift midfield move. Just thirteen minutes later, Atlético doubled their lead. Garbelini was involved again, creating space before the ball broke kindly for Andrea Medina, who finished confidently from inside the box.
On 22 minutes, Luany reacted quickest to a parried shot and tucked away Atlético’s third, firing into an empty net with ease. Before Vilde Bøe Risa made it 4–0 at the break with the pick of the goals – curling Luany’s lay-off into the far corner. Game over.
St. Pölten struggled to make any meaningful impact. Only registering one shot on target compared to Atlético’s 18. The gap in quality was clear.
In the final minutes, substitute Fiamma Benítez struck twice. Her first came in the 88th minute with a well taken pen. She added a second in stoppage time, a simple header to complete the socring.
Atlético return to Madrid next week to host Manchester United in what could be a key fixture in the league. St. Pölten head to Lyon – knowing it doesnt get any easier at this level.
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