Alessia Russo hat-trick sends Arsenal past Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League

Arsenal’s third match of the Champions League league stage turned into a one-sided evening at Meadow Park on Wednesday 28 October. Alessia Russo scored either side of half-time and then from the penalty spot, while SL Benfica managed only 2 shots on target all night.

Alessia Russo’s hat-trick at Meadow Park

The opener arrived in the 39th minute. Caitlin Foord supplied the assist and Russo finished, sending Arsenal into the break 1-0 up.

Russo doubled the lead in the 66th minute, this time set up by Stephanie Catley. Thirteen minutes later she completed her hat-trick with a penalty in the 79th minute.

Benfica’s only booking came two minutes before that, when Catarina Amado was shown a yellow card for a foul. The Portuguese side committed 13 fouls in total, more than double Arsenal’s 6.

Benfica make 11 saves as Arsenal fire 30 shots

The scoreline could easily have been heavier. Arsenal had 30 attempts to Benfica’s 5, with 19 of them from inside the box and 15 on target. Benfica made 11 saves to keep the margin at three.

Arsenal’s expected goals figure of 3.01 matched the final score almost exactly, against 0.31 for the visitors. The hosts also had 63% of the ball, completed 443 of their 508 passes and won 12 corners to Benfica’s 3. Benfica completed 225 passes from 298.

At the other end Arsenal were barely tested. Their two saves came from the only two Benfica efforts on target.

Back-to-back wins for Slegers’ side

The win gives Slegers’ team two victories in a row in all competitions, following the 2-1 success against Tottenham Hotspur. That ends a difficult spell. Before Tottenham, Arsenal had gone four games without a win, drawing 1-1 with Birmingham City and 2-2 with Paris FC and losing 4-2 to Manchester City and 1-0 to Chelsea.

It also keeps Arsenal’s record against Benfica perfect. The sides last met on 16 October 2025 in the same competition, when Arsenal won 2-0 in Portugal, so the London club have now scored 5 without reply across the two meetings.

For Benfica, the defeat interrupts a strong domestic run. They arrived on the back of a 4-1 win over Sporting CP and a 4-0 victory against Marítimo, and four of their last six games have ended in wins. Both defeats in that run came by a 3-0 scoreline, here and against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal return to the Women’s Super League on Sunday 1 November, when they host Aston Villa. Benfica go back to Portugal’s 1a Divisão and travel to Torreense on Tuesday 3 November.

Read also: Olivia Smith rescues point as Arsenal are held by Birmingham City in WSL