Arsenal vs Benfica: Women's Champions League preview, predictions, team news and TV info

These two clubs met for the very first time during last season's league phase, a 2-0 victory for Arsenal, with Beth Mead and Alessia Russo the scorers at Estádio da Luz.

This was the Gunners' first ever clash with a Portuguese opponent, but continued Benfica's miserable record against English sides, having been demolished 8-0 on aggregate by Chelsea in 2020.

Ahead of this key Champions League clash at Meadow Park, check out our preview, predictions, team news and TV info.

Arsenal vs Benfica match info

Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Kick off times: 8pm (local) & 4pm (ET).

Competition: UEFA Women's Champions League league phase matchday 3

Venue: Meadow Park - Borehamwood.

How to watch: Disney+ (UK) and CBS Sports (USA).

How can I watch Arsenal vs Benfica?

Arsenal vs Benfica match preview

Hold the back page! Hold the front page! Actually, while you are at it.... hold all the pages!! Arsenal have won a football match. On Saturday lunchtime, Renée Slegers' side fought back from a goal down to beat Tottenham 2-1 in the North London derby. Georgia Stanway's strike saw them draw level, before Alessia Russo's late penalty snatched victory.

Before this, Arsenal had failed to win five successive WSL matches for the first time in their entire history. This victory though propelled the Gunners up to sixth, still seven points off the Champions League places, but crucially eased the mounting pressure on Slegers.

Meantime, in the Champions League, Arsenal's campaign so far has been eventful, to say the least. On matchday one, they required a 93rd minute Mariona Caldentey penalty to beat HB Køge 1-0 at Meadow Park. Then, 2-0 up and cruising at Stade Jean-Bouin, they handed Paris FC a point, almost literally.

Three minutes from time, unaware Misa Rodríguez had taken the goal kick, Leah Williamson handled the ball, referee Iuliana Demetrescu rather harshly pointed to the spot and Maeline Mendy converted.

Given that, after this, Arsenal still have to face holders Barça Femení, OL Lyonnes and Inter Milan, they can ill afford not to win this one.

As for Benfica, they failed to win any of their six league phase fixtures last season, thereby ending up third-bottom, but have already improved on that this time round. The Eagles upset the odds by beating Juventus 2-1 on matchday one, courtesy of Marit Bratberg Lund's double in Turin. However, a week later, despite holding out for almost 75 minutes, they were eventually swatted aside 3-0 when Bayern Munich visited Estádio da Luz.

The Portuguese champions have though won only six of 28 Champions League games, not including qualifiers, their only away wins coming in Sweden against BK Häcken and Rosengård, as well as at Juventus last month. Thus, Arsenal have to be strong favourites for victory in Borehamwood.

Arsenal team news

Renée Slegers remains without star midfielder Mariona Caldentey due to a thigh injury, while Selina Cerci, Chloe Kelly and Kim Little are also out. Saturday's match-winner Alessia Russo has 20 Champions League goals to her name, one behind the record for an English player, held by Fran Kirby.

Russo could be joined in attack by Stina Blackstenius, after Caitlin Foord and Olivia Smith started at Tottenham. Meantime, at left-back, having started for just the second time all season at the weekend, will Taylor Hinds keep her place over Ona Batlle?

Benfica team news

Benfica have won their last three domestic games by an aggregate score of 14-1, but this will be an entirely different ball game. The Eagles are without a clean sheet in ten European matches, something Lena Pauels and her backline will be hoping to change in North London.

Predicted Line-ups

Arsenal predicted lineup: Rodríguez; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Hinds; Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Baum, Smith, Russo; Blackstenius.

Benfica predicted lineup: Pauels; Amado, Testen, Gomes, Lund; Pauleta, Csiki, Møller, Raysla, Alves; Dorsin.

Score prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Benfica.