Alessia Russo became the highest English goalscorer in the Women’s Champions League as her hat-trick gave Arsenal a 3-0 win over Benfica at Meadow Park on Wednesday. The victory lifted Arsenal to second in the league phase table and followed Saturday’s north London derby success.
Russo’s treble took her tally to 10 goals in her past seven appearances for club and country. Arsenal manager Renée Slegers praised the 27-year-old’s influence. “I’m so happy. I think we’ve found a nice dynamic as well with the last two games,” Slegers said. “She’s one of the leaders and she does it her way. She cares for everyone around her and connects well with her teammates. She leads the way as a role model, doing the right things consistently.”
The win eased pressure on Slegers after a start to the season in which Arsenal had struggled in front of goal and made unforced errors. Their European form had mirrored those domestic difficulties: a last-ditch win over HB Køge and a draw with Paris FC, in which they surrendered a two-goal lead, left them fifth in the league phase table before kick-off, with Barcelona and OL Lyonnes to come.
Slegers made three changes, with Ona Batlle returning to right-back and summer signings Élisa De Almeida and Géraldine Reuteler making their full debuts. Benfica, coached by Ivan Baptista, arrived with consecutive domestic wins behind them. Arsenal dominated the first half but struggled to break down a well-structured opponent. The visitors had the best chance of the opening half hour when Frøya Dorsin failed to lob the stranded Misa Rodríguez. That moment jolted Arsenal, and Olivia Smith set up Russo for a low shot that went narrowly wide before Smith forced Lena Pauels into a fine save.
Russo broke through just before half-time with a sublime finish after a well-worked move down the left. After the break Arsenal played with greater confidence. Smith looked more comfortable in her central role, Caitlin Foord came alive down the left and was denied by a superb last-ditch challenge, and Russo continued to press and stretch the play. The captain on the night glanced home a corner to double the lead and then completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot after Foord was brought down by Catarina Amado. The third goal marked the 200th of Slegers’s tenure.
“It looks like there is something off our shoulders,” Slegers said. “We were playing like us tonight and I am so happy. The players enjoyed themselves – they connected, they expressed themselves and they played with intensity. We backed the last performance up. We need to do it again at the weekend.” Arsenal could have added more as they increasingly looked like themselves, and while sterner tests lie ahead — starting with a trip to Barcelona in a fortnight — the victory signified more than just a climb up the Champions League table.