Football
Sophie Lawson 1y

Arsenal stay top of Group C, Bayern Munich rally for win in Women's Champions League

Arsenal maintained their spot at the top of Group C with a 3-1 win over FC Zurich, while Bayern Munich came from two goals down to scoop all three points with a 3-2 victory over Benfica in the Women's Champions League on Thursday.

Despite seeing the lion's share of the ball, Arsenal had nothing to show for it until they took the lead seven minutes before the break against Zurich with an inch-perfect volley from Jordan Nobbs.

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One became two minutes later when Lina Hurtig popped up in front of goal to nod Mana Iwabuchi's deflected cross over 19-year-old Lourdes Romero, leaving the bottom side in the group with little way back into the match.

In a quiet second half, the visitors pulled a goal back when Seraina Piubel brought the ball down and pinged it off of the crossbar and into the back of Kaylan Marckese's net. But the comeback was short lived as three minuets later, Hurtig added her second and Arsenal's third.

With Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall having made wholesale changes for the match, the team struggled for their usual rhythm against a defensively minded Zürich team and failed to carve out any more clear cut chances.

Humbled 9-0 by Barcelona last time out, Benfica bounced back well to hit Munich for two goals when they clashed for the first time this season in Group D, but the Portuguese champions couldn't hold onto their advantage and lost the tie in the 98th minute.

The hosts opened the scoring just before the break when the front three combined with Francisca Nazareth's mazy run the catalyst, Cloe Lacasse the glue to send her pass into Nycole Raysla's path for the striker to finish a well-worked goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Bayern after the break when Lina Magull had to be stretchered off following an awkward landing and while  they were still adjusting, the hosts hit them on the counter to double their advantage when Maria-Luisa Grohs let Lacasse's low effort slip through her fingers.

Down but not out, the visitors pulled a goal back at a corner when Maxi Rall rose well to loop a header over Katelin Talbert and give them a route back into the tie. Georgia Stanway seized on the chance and let fly into the bottom right corner with seven minutes left on the clock.

Benfica were then gifted a chance to snatch their advantage back moments later when Jessica Silva was felled in the box only for Ana Vitoria to see her spot kick pawed away by Grohs. The save would prove to be vital as in the dying seconds of the eight additional minutes, Stanway fired low across the box to steal all three points for Munich.

Earlier on Thursday, Group D leaders Barcelona, who are level on points but ahead of Bayern on goal difference, made it two wins from two in the Champions League with a 4-1 win away at Swedish champions Rosengard.

Two goals from midfielder Aitana Bonmatí helped them into a two goal lead but Olivia Holdt pulled one back for the home side just before the break.

Mariona Caldentey added a brace in the second half to make sure of the points as Jonatan Giraldez's side made it seven victories from seven matches in all competitions this season.

Wednesday's win was tainted by a hamstring injury picked up by Caroline Graham Hansen in the first half. The Norwegian winger left the pitch in tears and will undergo tests on Thursday to determine the severity of the problem.

In Thursday's other early game, defending champions Lyon were held to a 1-1 draw by Juventus at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.

United States national team player Lindsey Horan opened the scoring in the 23rd minute for the visitors, but an own goal by Melvine Malard just after half-time gifted a point to Juventus, second in Group C, while third-placed Lyon have started the campaign with a loss and a draw.

Damaris Egurrola was subbed off before half-time with an injury, dealing another blow to Sonia Bompastor's already depleted squad.

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