Lyon, Barcelona Make Winning Starts as Women’s Champions League Gets Underway

Lyon began their Women’s Champions League campaign in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, thrashing Servette 8-0 to underline their ambitions of reclaiming the European title.

The French giants, who finished as runners-up last season, produced a dominant display against the Swiss champions, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto scoring a hat-trick and Melchie Dumornay adding two goals.

Lyon also benefited from two own goals, with Laia Balleste and Magdalena Sobal both putting the ball into their own net as the eight-time European champions took complete control of the contest.

Ines Benyahia completed the rout in the 89th minute, capping a remarkable performance from a Lyon side that had rested several regular starters.

“We wanted to start in the best way possible,” Dumornay told UEFA.

“I’m very happy because we worked a lot together for this result and to avoid conceding a goal,” the forward added.

Defending champions Barcelona also made a strong start to their title defence, beating Paris FC 5-2 as they continued their pursuit of a fifth Women’s Champions League crown.

Poland international Ewa Pajor scored twice for Barcelona, while Brazil forward Kerolin, Spain’s Clara Serrajordi and Norway international Caroline Hansen were also on target.

Barcelona entered the competition following a summer in which two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas left the club for London City Lionesses, but the Catalan side showed they remain a formidable force in Europe.

Elsewhere, Chelsea began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Austria Vienna, with Wieke Kaptein scoring the decisive goal.

Kaptein acknowledged that Chelsea were made to work hard for the result after Austria Vienna applied significant pressure.

“It was a tough game,” Kaptein told Disney+.

“They put pressure on us and made it a little bit more difficult. We could have scored more goals, and we needed to punish them more.

“Overall, we won; it’s good, and now we need to focus on the next game.”

In Belgium, OH Leuven and Roma played out a goalless draw as both sides settled for a point.

Tuesday’s opening fixtures also produced intriguing results, with Manchester City recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 away to Bayern Munich.

Arsenal, meanwhile, needed a late goal to secure a 1-0 victory over Denmark’s HB Koge.

With several of Europe’s leading clubs already making their mark, the opening round has set the stage for another competitive Women’s Champions League campaign.