English clubs scrape unconvincing Women's Champions League wins — SkimNews
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- Arsenal scraped a 1-0 home win against Danish minnows HB Koge via a 95th-minute penalty, managing only two shots on target despite a 1.93 expected goals tally, continuing a pattern of misfiring against lower-ranked opposition.
- Chelsea beat Champions League debutants Austria Vienna 1-0 through Wieke Kaptein's goal, but the visitors hit the post and registered more shots than Chelsea, with midfield control slipping after captain Erin Cuthbert was injured and Keira Walsh substituted early.
- Manchester City recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at semi-finalists Bayern Munich, with summer signings Beth Mead and Carlotta Wamser netting their first goals for the club, though Khadija Shaw missed a penalty in the 2-2 draw.
- Arsenal have managed only two goals and five points across their opening three Women's Super League matches this season — what the source calls an "inauspicious start" for a side bullish about winning trophies.
- Lyon thrashed Servette 8-0 in Switzerland with a Marie-Antoinette Katoto hat-trick and 31 shots, while holders Barcelona recovered from going behind to beat Paris FC 5-2, scoring four before half-time.
- Lyon host Chelsea next week in the marquee early test of the English side's credentials.
Why it matters: All three English clubs took points on matchday one, but the underlying performances — a 95th-minute penalty escape for Arsenal, Chelsea nearly dropping points to a Champions League newcomer, and City needing a comeback at Bayern — leave real questions about whether any of them can match Barcelona and Lyon, who looked a class apart with 8-0 and 5-2 wins respectively.
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