Manchester City made a resounding statement in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League second round qualifying, dismantling Paris FC 5-0 on the road. New signing Vivianne Miedema opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Jessica Park added a brace, while Mary Fowler and Chloe Kelly chipped in with goals in the second half, securing a commanding lead for City heading into the second leg.
Meanwhile, Miedema’s former club Arsenal faced a tougher test in Sweden. Despite a valiant effort, they fell to Hacken 1-0, with Tabitha Tindell’s 77th-minute strike proving to be the difference.
Elsewhere, Juventus cruised to a 3-1 home win over Paris Saint-Germain. Amalie Vangsgaard and Sofia Cantore scored in the first half, while Hanna Bennison added a third goal in the 61st minute. Wolfsburg, the two-time champions, also enjoyed a dominant outing, demolishing Fiorentina 7-0 on the road thanks to a hat-trick from Alexandra Popp.
Roma secured a 3-1 victory over Servette at home, while Twente of the Netherlands defeated Osijek 4-1 in Croatia. Benfica edged out Hammarby 2-1 in Sweden, and Norway’s Valerenga beat Anderlecht by the same scoreline in Brussels.
The second leg ties are scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday. The winners will join automatic entrants Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea in the draw for the group stage. The competition continues to heat up as teams vie for a place among Europe’s elite.
