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Arsenal Women 3-0 Benfica Women: Russo scores hat-trick as Gunners win back-to-back games

Alessia Russo became England's all-time leading goalscorer in the Women's Champions League with a hat-trick at Meadow Park.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Alessia Russo
Alessia Russo (file photo) Photo: Katie Chan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Arsenal Women beat Benfica Women 3-0 in the Women's Champions League at Meadow Park on 28 October 2026. Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick to set an England record and lift Arsenal to second in the table.

Key takeaways

  • Arsenal Women won 3-0 against Benfica Women in the Women's Champions League.
  • Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick, reaching 23 goals in the competition.
  • Russo became England's all-time leading goalscorer in the Women's Champions League.
  • Arsenal secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
  • The Gunners moved up to second in the Champions League table.

Arsenal Women beat Benfica Women 3-0 at Mangata Developments Stadium Meadow Park on Wednesday 28 October 2026 in the UEFA Women's Champions League league stage, Sky Sports reported. Alessia Russo scored all three Arsenal goals as the Gunners recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season. BBC Sport said Russo became England's all-time leading goalscorer in the Women's Champions League with the hat-trick.

Match details

Russo opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a low, diagonal effort that beat goalkeeper Lena Pauels, Sky Sports reported.

Her glancing header from Steph Catley's corner made her the outright record holder, before she added another from the penalty spot after Caitlin Foord was fouled by Catarina Amado, taking her tally to 23 goals in Europe.

The victory lifts Arsenal up to second in the Champions League table and helps their chances of qualifying for the knockout phase, while Benfica drop to 11th, BBC Sport reported.

Context

Russo matched Fran Kirby's record of 21 goals with her first-half opener, Sky Sports reported. The 27-year-old forward struck in the 39th minute with a sublime sweeping finish for her 21st goal in the competition, which put her level alongside Fran Kirby, BBC Sport reported.

She soon claimed the standalone record with a glancing header from a corner to ensure Arsenal secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season, BBC Sport reported.

Russo rounded off the perfect evening at Meadow Park with her third, converting from the penalty spot to take her tally to 23 goals in Europe, BBC Sport reported.

Russo's season

After a slow start to the season that saw her blank in her first five matches, Russo has now scored nine goals in her past seven games for club and country, BBC Sport reported. Despite finishing last season as Arsenal's top goalscorer, Renee Slegers has continued to deploy Russo in the number 10 role, BBC Sport reported.

Arsenal's season

The Gunners' seven goals in the WSL is the fourth lowest in the league and it has left them 10 points behind leaders Manchester City after just seven games, BBC Sport reported. Arsenal snapped a five-game winless run in the WSL with Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham, and a second successive victory will boost confidence under Renee Slegers, BBC Sport reported.

What happens next

Arsenal's next European fixture is a huge game at Barcelona on November 12, Sky Sports reported. Barcelona beat Arsenal to win the title in 2025, according to Sky Sports.

Match summary

Team

Score

Half-time

Arsenal

3

1

Benfica

0

0

Sources

Topics

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