Arsenal narrowly avoided a disastrous start to their Women's Champions League campaign as Mariona Caldentey converted a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to secure a 1-0 win over HB Koge. Despite dominating possession against their Danish opponents, the Gunners looked toothless for much of the evening at Boreham Wood.
Sam Coffey and City won, while Emily Fox and Phallon Tullis-Joyce drew 1-1. Chelsea won amid questions over Naomi Girma's minutes and Alyssa Thompson's scoring.
With Chelsea held to a surprise draw by Aston Villa and Arsenal settling for a stalemate with newly-promoted Crystal Palace, the English top-flight already looks set for a season of shocks and upsets
Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?
The road to European glory has been mapped out following the UEFA Women's Champions League league phase draw in Nyon. England's elite representatives have discovered their fate, with several mouth-watering ties confirmed for this campaign.
Vipers SC
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