Paris FC Secures First Champions League Victory, Lyon Salvages Draw in Thrilling Matchday
Paris FC claimed their first victory of the 2025 Champions League season on Wednesday, defeating Benfica 2-0 at the Jean-Bouin stadium, while Olympique Lyonnais dramatically rescued a point against Juventus in a 3-3 draw. Elsewhere, Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 2-1.
Paris FC Overcomes Benfica After Early Red Card
Paris FC, previously struggling in the European competition, demonstrated both offensive prowess and defensive solidity against their Portuguese opponents. The match took a decisive turn with the 32nd-minute dismissal of Benfica’s Caroline Moller, who received two yellow cards within three minutes for dangerous tackles.
The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when 18-year-old Maeline Mendy scored her first Champions League goal, capitalizing on a high interception by Anaële Le Moguédec. “We are happy, we did everything to win, the coach said we had to have ambition and character and that’s what we did,” Le Moguédec shared with L’Equipe TV after the match.
Building on their numerical advantage, Paris FC extended their lead in the 62nd minute through Maëlle Garbino, who headed home a cross. Garbino nearly added a second shortly after, but was denied by a strong save from the Benfica goalkeeper.
The win, Paris FC’s first of the campaign, moves them into contention for a play-off spot, potentially rising from 5th to 12th place. They will face Valerenga on December 10th in a crucial match that could determine their progression to the round of 16, especially with a difficult final group stage match against league leader FC Barcelona looming.
Lyon Stages Remarkable Comeback Against Juventus
In a stunning display of resilience, Olympique Lyonnais salvaged a 3-3 draw against Juventus after trailing 3-0 at halftime. This result marked the first time this season that Lyon has failed to secure a victory in all competitions, though they remain undefeated.
The first half proved disastrous for the eight-time European champions, with a listless defense allowing Juventus to take a commanding lead. Chiara Beccari opened the scoring in the 12th minute, followed by goals from Michela Cambiaghi (27th minute) and Tatiana Pinto (37th minute). Defender Tarciane struggled significantly throughout the first period, contributing to the defensive woes.
However, a tactical shift at halftime, with Alice Sombath replacing Tarciane, sparked a dramatic turnaround. Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back for Lyon in the 60th minute, assisted by Ada Hegerberg. Marie-Antoinette Katoto then narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the 79th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Selma Bacha.
The equalizer arrived in the 90th minute when Wendie Renard converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Juventus captain Cecilia Salvai. Lyon even came close to completing the comeback in the dying seconds, but a goal by Jule Brand was disallowed for offside due to a marginal shoulder push from Renard.
Arsenal and Other Results
Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, with Alessia Russo scoring both goals for the English side (53rd and 67th minutes). Manchester United, Lyon’s upcoming opponent, suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Wolfsburg, where Lineth Beerensteyn scored twice for the German team and Melvine Malard found the net for the English side. Valerenga, Paris FC’s next opponent, drew 2-2 with SKN Sankt Pölten.
