Caroline Graham Hansen scored the 2-0 goal that punctuated the title defender’s home game against Eintracht Frankfurt and was the starting point for the Benfica celebrations.
Benfica came close to doing the job on their own, when 0-1 at half-time was turned into a 2-1 lead in the away match against Swedish Rosengård. Jéssica Silva and Marie Alidou were responsible for the goals, but Mai Kadowski equalized at 2-2 for Rosengård in the 82nd minute, and thus Benfica was dependent on help from Barcelona, who were already group winners.
With Caroline Graham Hansen and Ingrid Syrstad Engen in the starting line-up, Barcelona were determined to maintain their status as the only team without a drop in the women’s championship, but the German guests defended themselves fiercely in an attempt to keep their chances alive.
Patri Guijarro sent the home team into the lead with an unstoppable shot in the 19th minute, but there were no more goals until Graham Hansen in the 73rd minute received the ball at the 16-metre line, used a touch and shot low into the corner.
Then there was no turning back for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Engen played the whole match, while Graham Hansen was replaced in the 84th minute.
The following teams are already in the quarter-finals, as group winners: Barcelona (A), Lyon (B), Chelsea (D).
As runners-up: Benfica (A), Brann (B).
The last three places in the quarter-finals are decided in the last round, and six teams are in the fight for them: Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Roma (Group C), Häcken and Paris FC (Group D).
[ Tryllet Brann videre i mesterligaen: – Blir for mye for meg ]