Alessia Russo became the highest-scoring English player in the Women’s Champions League after netting a hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory for Arsenal against Benfica on Wednesday at Meadow Park. The win elevated Arsenal to second place in their Champions League group stage.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers praised Russo, highlighting her leadership both on and off the pitch. “She’s one of the leaders and she does it her way. She cares for everyone around her and connects well with her teammates,” Slegers said. “She leads the way as a role model, doing the right things consistently.”
The 27-year-old striker’s performance came at a critical juncture for Arsenal, who have struggled with goal-scoring and errors during the early months of the season. Russo’s three goals marked her 10th in seven games combined for club and country, demonstrating a return to form as Arsenal seek to build momentum after a hard-fought north London derby win on Saturday.
Ahead of the match, Arsenal faced significant pressure to improve their European campaign, having garnered just one win and one draw in their opening group-stage fixtures. Before kickoff, the Gunners sat fifth in the standings, trailing established teams such as Barcelona and Lyon.
Slegers made three changes to the starting lineup, including the return of Ona Batlle to the right-back position and full debuts for summer signings Élisa De Almeida and Géraldine Reuteler. Benfica, coached by Ivan Baptista, entered the match in strong domestic form and posed a well-organized challenge, particularly in the first half as Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to convert chances.
Benfica’s Frøya Dorsin missed a notable opportunity early on, a miss that galvanized Arsenal to intensify their attacking efforts. Olivia Smith created several openings before Russo broke the deadlock with a precise finish from a well-executed move down the left flank just before halftime.
Arsenal’s performance improved markedly in the second half, with increased fluidity and confidence. The team controlled possession and created multiple opportunities. Russo continued to influence the game, scoring Arsenal’s second goal with a header from a corner and completing her hat-trick by converting a penalty after Caitlin Foord was fouled by Benfica’s Catarina Amado.
The victory marked the 200th goal scored during Slegers’s tenure as head coach, easing pressure on the management staff and demonstrating the team’s potential to recapture its best form. Reflecting on the game, Slegers said, “It looks like there is something off our shoulders. We were playing like us tonight, and I am so happy. The players enjoyed themselves — they connected, expressed themselves, and played with intensity.”
Arsenal will face a tougher challenge when they travel to Barcelona in two weeks, but the result against Benfica represents a significant step forward in their Champions League campaign and a boost to team morale as they aim to sustain positive momentum.