Every single game counts toward a single standing.
Com a chegada de um novo formato e de uma nova geração de protagonistas, a Liga dos Campeões feminina da UEFA inaugura esta terça-feira uma era diferente para o futebol feminino europeu. O Benfica, cinco vezes campeão português, parte para Turim enfrentar a Juventus num momento de reconstrução interna e incerteza competitiva. A nova fase de liga — espelho do modelo masculino — comprime o erro e amplifica a exigência, lembrando que as grandes transformações raramente chegam sem turbulência.
- O novo formato elimina a margem de conforto: 18 equipas, seis jogos, e cada ponto pode separar a glória do esquecimento.
- O Benfica chega a Turim fragilizado por uma pré-época agitada — novo treinador, caras novas, derrota na Supertaça e um empate a zeros na liga antes de recuperar o fôlego.
- A Juventus reforçou-se com Lia Wälti, ex-Arsenal, e chega ao jogo como dupla campeã italiana, representando um obstáculo imediato e concreto para as portuguesas.
- O sorteio não poupou o Benfica: Arsenal (campeão em título), Barcelona (tricampeão) e PSG aguardam na fase de liga, tornando cada jogo uma final antecipada.
- Lyon renasce sob Giráldez com contratações de peso; Barcelona quer vingança após a final perdida; Arsenal defende o título com Chloe Kelly — a competição nunca foi tão equilibrada nem tão imprevisível.
A UEFA Liga dos Campeões feminina arranca esta terça-feira com uma mudança estrutural profunda: pela primeira vez, o torneio adota uma fase de liga com 18 equipas, cada uma a disputar seis jogos. As quatro primeiras classificadas avançam diretamente para os quartos de final; da quinta à décima segunda posição, as equipas entram numa eliminatória em fevereiro para definir os restantes lugares. O formato é novo, a pressão é imediata.
O Benfica abre a competição em Turim frente à Juventus. As cinco vezes campeãs portuguesas chegam a Itália numa fase de transição: Ivan Baptista assumiu o comando técnico no verão, sucedendo a Filipa Patão, e o plantel foi renovado com Diana Gomes, Diana Silva e Caroline Moller, entre outras. A época doméstica começou de forma irregular — derrota na Supertaça frente ao Torreense, empate sem golos na liga —, mas duas vitórias expressivas recentes devolveram alguma confiança. A Juventus, adversária desta noite, terminou a época passada com o doblete italiano e reforçou-se com a médio suíça Lia Wälti, proveniente do Arsenal.
O caminho europeu do Benfica não oferece facilidades: além da Juventus, as portuguesas vão defrontar o Arsenal (campeão em título), o Barcelona (tricampeão que perdeu a final da época passada) e o PSG. O jogo frente ao Barcelona terá um sabor especial — será o reencontro com Kika Nazareth, que trocou Lisboa pela Catalunha.
No resto da competição, o Arsenal de Chloe Kelly defende o título frente ao Lyon, o clube mais titulado da história da prova, agora renovado por Jonatan Giráldez com contratações como Katoto, Jule Brand e Lily Yohannes. O Barcelona de Aitana Bonmatí — tricampeã do Bola de Ouro — quer recuperar o troféu perdido em maio. O Chelsea, reforçado com Ellie Carpenter e com o regresso de Sam Kerr, e o PSG de Paulo César, com Olga Carmona nas fileiras, completam o quadro de candidatas. Para o Benfica, esta terça-feira é o início de uma prova de maturidade europeia — e o calendário não deixa espaço para hesitações.
The renovated UEFA Women's Champions League begins Tuesday evening with Benfica traveling to Turin to face Juventus, a match that opens the competition under an entirely new structure. For the first time, the women's tournament adopts the league-phase format long used in the men's competition—18 teams will play six matches each, with the top four finishers advancing directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing fifth through twelfth secure spots in a knockout round scheduled for February, where they'll compete for the remaining eight quarterfinal berths. The stakes are immediate and the format unfamiliar, even for seasoned competitors.
Benfica arrives in Italy as Portugal's five-time champions, but the club has undergone significant upheaval. Ivan Baptista took over as head coach this summer, replacing Filipa Patão, who departed for the United States. The squad has been reshaped with new arrivals including Portuguese internationals Ana Borges (currently sidelined by injury), Diana Gomes, and Diana Silva, plus Caroline Moller, a former Real Madrid player. Yet the domestic season has offered little comfort. Benfica lost the Super Cup to Torreense in their opening fixture, then drew goalless against Racing Power in the league's first round. Two subsequent victories—5-1 over Vitória de Guimarães and 8-0 against Damaiense—have lifted them to the top of the Portuguese standings with seven points, level with Sporting, who stumbled with a 1-1 draw at home to Guimarães.
Juventus, their opponent on Tuesday, represents a formidable challenge. Both clubs have appeared in the old group-stage format three times in the past four seasons, with quarterfinals as their deepest European run. Last year, Juventus finished behind Arsenal and Bayern Munich in their group but claimed the Italian domestic double, ending Roma's two-year reign as champions. The Turin club has invested heavily in the transfer market, notably acquiring Swiss midfielder Lia Wälti from Arsenal, the reigning European champions.
The draw for this revamped competition has handed Benfica a demanding path. Beyond Juventus, the Portuguese side will face Arsenal, the defending champions, and Barcelona, a three-time winner seeking to reclaim the trophy after losing last season's final. The Barcelona match carries particular resonance: it will reunite Benfica with Kika Nazareth, who departed for Catalonia. Benfica will also meet PSG at home, Twente at home, and Paris FC away. The schedule offers no easy passage.
Arsenal begins its title defense against Lyon, the competition's most successful side with eight previous championships. Lyon has undergone transformation under new coach Jonatan Giráldez, who won the Champions League twice with Barcelona. The French club has signed Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Jule Brand, Ingrid Engen, and Lily Yohannes, signaling serious ambition. Barcelona, led by Aitana Bonmatí—winner of the last three Ballon d'Or awards—will attempt to reclaim the trophy it won in 2020-21, 2022-23, and 2023-24 before losing to Arsenal last May.
Chelsea, which won the English treble in Sonia Bompastor's debut season, fell to Barcelona in last year's semifinals but has strengthened with signings including Ellie Carpenter and Alyssa Thompson, plus the return of injured striker Sam Kerr. PSG, managed by Paulo César following elimination by Juventus in qualifying last season, has recruited Olga Carmona and Rasheedar Ajibade in pursuit of a first European title. The competition features individual stars of the highest caliber: Chloe Kelly of Arsenal, fresh from winning last year's Champions League; Jule Brand of Lyon, who impressed at Euro 2025; Cristiana Girelli of Juventus, whose goal against Portugal in the Euros was voted the tournament's best by supporters; and Hannah Hampton of Chelsea, the inaugural winner of the women's Yashin Trophy and player of the match in the Euro final.
For Benfica, Tuesday's opener against Juventus represents both opportunity and test. The club must prove that its summer reconstruction can translate into European competitiveness, even as domestic form remains uneven. The new format offers no hiding place—six matches determine everything, and the margin for error is thin. The Portuguese champions have work to do.
Notable Quotes
Benfica's domestic season has offered little comfort, with losses and draws early on despite recent victories against weaker opponents.— Season record summary
Juventus claimed the Italian domestic double, ending Roma's two-year reign as champions.— Juventus domestic performance
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the format change matter so much? It's still the same teams playing each other.
The league phase compresses everything. Before, you could lose a group match and still advance if you won the others. Now every single game counts toward a single standing. There's no second chance built into the structure—you finish outside the top four, you're in a playoff. It's more brutal.
And Benfica's domestic form—is that a real concern, or just early-season noise?
They lost the Super Cup and drew their first league match. That's not noise. It suggests the new coach and new players haven't fully gelled. The wins came against weaker opponents. When you're about to face Juventus and Arsenal, you want momentum. They don't have it yet.
What's the story with Kika Nazareth and Barcelona?
She left Benfica for Barcelona, which is where the best players go. When Benfica plays Barcelona away, she'll be on the other side. It's the natural arc of a player's career, but it stings for the club she left behind.
Is Arsenal really the favorite?
Arsenal won last year and they've added Chloe Kelly, who was crucial to that victory. They're defending champions in a competition where continuity matters. But Lyon has a new coach who's won this before, and Barcelona has Aitana Bonmatí. It's genuinely open.
What happens to the teams that finish fifth through twelfth?
They get a second life in February—a knockout round that feeds into the quarterfinals. It's a mercy, but also a grind. You're playing extra matches while the top four rest. It's not where anyone wants to be.
So Benfica needs to finish top four to avoid that?
Exactly. Six matches, one group. Finish fourth or better, you go straight to the quarters. Finish fifth, you're in a playoff. It's that simple and that unforgiving.