Benfica Women stunned Juventus Women 2-1 in Turin on UWCL Matchday 1, powered by a clinical Marit Bratberg Lund brace before Alba Redondo’s late strike.
Bratberg Lund Double Propels Benfica Women to Memorable 2-1 Victory Over Juventus in Turin
Benfica Women delivered a sensational tactical masterclass at the Allianz Stadium, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Juventus Women on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League phase. A clinical brace from Norwegian international Marit Bratberg Lund propelled the Portuguese champions to a memorable away triumph, dampening Italian hopes despite a frantic late push from the hosts.
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Bratberg Lund Strikes from the Spot
The contest began with Juventus attempting to control the rhythm through sustained possession. However, Benfica Women maintained a disciplined defensive shape and looked exceptionally dangerous on quick transitions. The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when persistent pressure in the final third earned Benfica a penalty.
Bratberg Lund stepped forward and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner, handing the visitors a deserved advantage just before the half-time whistle.
Second Half Double Punishes Bianconeri
Juventus re-emerged with renewed intensity, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Yet Benfica’s counter-attacking precision proved decisive once again. In the 61st minute, Bratberg Lund found space on the left wing, displaying sharp instincts to fire home her second goal of the evening. The clinical strike silenced the home crowd and gave the Lisbon giants a commanding 2-0 cushion, leaving the Italian champions with an uphill battle in the final half-hour.
Alba Redondo Rekindles Late Italian Hope
Facing defeat, the Bianconeri committed extra numbers into the penalty area. Their relentless pressure finally cracked Benfica’s resilient backline in the 86th minute. Spanish forward Alba Redondo reacted fastest inside the box, finishing with composure to slash the deficit to 2-1. The goal set up a tense finish with several stoppage-time opportunities, but Benfica held firm to secure all three points in their opening continental clash.