Benfica secured a 2-1 victory over Juventus Women in the opening League Stage match of the Women's Champions League at Juventus Centre on Monday evening. The Danish duo of Marit Bratberg Lund scored twice for the visitors, while Alba Redondo's late strike couldn't salvage a point for the hosts. We had backed the home side to win, but the match took a different turn once that penalty was awarded.
Everything shifted around the 40th minute when VAR awarded Benfica a spot-kick after Anna Julia Csiki went down in the box. Marit Bratberg Lund stepped up and didn't miss, sending the keeper the wrong way to give her side the lead. Juventus responded with three substitutions at the break, bringing on Paula Domínguez Encinas and Caroline Moller for the visitors as well, though neither side could find an equaliser in the opening half.
The second half saw Juventus dominate possession but struggle to break down a disciplined Benfica defence. Marit Bratberg Lund doubled her tally in the 61st minute, and suddenly the visitors had breathing room. By then, the home side had thrown bodies forward, and the approach changed from patient build-up to desperate crosses.
Alba Redondo pulled one back in the 86th minute with a late consolation, but it came too late to change the outcome. Juventus finished with more shots on target and higher possession, but Benfica's efficiency proved decisive. Three shots on target and two goals is a conversion rate that doesn't come along every week.
The statistics tell the story of a team that controlled the ball but couldn't convert chances. Juventus registered 136 attacks compared to Benfica's 67, with 11 key passes against just five. The visitors made more clearances and interceptions, but their goalkeeper made four saves to Juventus's one. Shots accuracy sat at 38 per cent for the hosts and 33 for Benfica — not much to separate them, yet the result says otherwise.
For Juventus, this is a setback in the new League Stage format. They came into the match on a run of five matches without defeat, including wins over Inter Milan and AC Milan. Benfica, meanwhile, extend their recent winning streak and move into a strong position after the opening round. And here's the thing — the difference wasn't in the numbers, it was in the moments that mattered.
