GOLAZONEWSAlessia Russo hat-trick breaks record in Arsenal win over Benfica
- Alessia Russo scored all three goals in Arsenal's 3-0 victory.
- The forward became the highest English scorer in Women's Champions League history.
- Arsenal moved up to second place in the league phase standings.
Arsenal secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against Benfica in the Women's Champions League league phase, driven by a record-breaking performance from Alessia Russo. The England international scored a hat-trick, a feat that established her as the highest-scoring English player in the history of the competition.
The result lifts the Gunners to second place in the table. While the London club has faced challenges earlier this season, including difficulties in front of goal and unforced errors, this win follows a recent victory in the North London derby. According to The Guardian, that domestic result appears to have provided the necessary momentum for this European success.
For Benfica, the defeat marks another setback in their Champions League campaign. Despite the scoreline, Benfica coach Ivan Baptista highlighted the positive attitude of his squad. However, as reported by Record, Baptista suggested his team lacked calmness during certain periods of the match, ultimately falling to what the Portuguese publication described as Arsenal's "lethal weapon" in Russo.