Juve's Champions League Debut: Benfica Wins 2-1 at the Stadium

Juventus Women kicked off their Champions League campaign with a disappointing 2-1 home loss to Benfica. Despite controlling much of the match, the Bianconere conceded two goals, including a penalty and a free-kick, to the Portuguese side. In the closing minutes, Redondo managed to pull one back for Juve, but it wasn't enough to salvage a point.

Rosucci reflected on the game, stating, "Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. We tried until the end. We conceded from a penalty and a free-kick; that's football. We dominated and made defensive errors. We need to train with energy to continue working as we are."

The match saw Benfica take the lead through Lund's penalty in the 40th minute. Lund then extended their advantage with a powerful free-kick in the 61st minute. Elena Redondo scored for Juventus in the 86th minute, but the team couldn't find an equalizer.

Several substitutions were made by both teams throughout the second half, with Juve bringing on Khelifi, Noordman, Sylla, Chiba, and Stolen Godo, while Benfica introduced Shao Ziqin, Raysla, Tristao, Norton, and Gomes. Juventus also saw a penalty appeal turned down by VAR.

In the first half, both teams had opportunities. Juventus hit the post early on through Redondo's cross. Benfica's Davidson had a shot saved by De Jong, leading to a VAR review for a potential penalty. The referee eventually awarded the penalty to Benfica, which Lund converted.

Both Juventus and Benfica were aiming to improve on their previous best Champions League performances. Benfica reached the quarter-finals in the 2023/24 season, while Juventus had previously been eliminated by Lyon.

Coach Guerrero expressed confidence in his team, highlighting their competitive spirit and ability to handle high-pressure situations. He emphasized playing for the fans and the club's winning mentality.

The starting lineups saw Guerrero opt for a 3-4-3 formation for Juventus, featuring De Jong in goal, a defense of D'Auria, Rosucci, and Salvai, a midfield of Bartel, Schatzer, Pinto, and Carbonell, and an attack of Serturini, Redondo, and Sarriegi. Benfica lined up in a 4-3-3 formation under Baptista.

This was the second encounter between Juventus and Benfica in the UEFA Women's Champions League, with Juventus having won the previous fixture 2-1 in Turin during the 2025/26 season, thanks to a brace from Cecilia Salvai.