The Women’s Champions League has returned with a bang and here SheKicks gives our Team of the Week for Matchday 1.
It was a mixed week for English clubs with only Manchester United able to walk away with a victory.
Chelsea shockingly failed to beat FC Twente who held them to a 1-1 draw, while reigning holders Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by an excellent Lyon side.
It was a successful week for teams representing Spain, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all walking away with big victories.
Below, SheKicks gives our Team of the Week for Matchday 1 of the Women’s Champions League.
Women’s Champions League Team of the Week for Matchday 1
Goalkeeper
Diede Lemey – FC Twente
Belgian goalkeeper Diede Lemey made five saves as FC Twente managed to hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.
Sonia Bompastor’s side were expected to comfortably beat their Dutch opponents on Wednesday night.
However Lemey made some excellent saves, and was only beaten from the penalty spot by Sandy Baltimore.
Defenders
Ona Battle – Barcelona
Spain defender Ona Battle is one of four Barcelona players to make the Champions League Team of the Week.
The 26-year-old was effective at both ends of the field. She created two chances and played five balls into the final third, with a 90% accurate pass rate.
Batlle also made eight recoveries and constantly made herself available for her teammates with 101 touches of the ball.
Maya Le Tissier – Manchester United
Manchester United defender Maya Le Tissier is the only player representing the Women’s Super League to make this XI.
Le Tissier scored the decisive goal for the Red Devils from the penalty spot against Valerenga. She also had more touches of the ball than anyone else on the field with 130 and was the most fouled player on the pitch (three times).
Marc Skinner backed Le Tissier to become an ‘England stalwart’ during his post-match press conference.
Cecilia Salvai – Juventus
Italian centre-back Cecilia Salvai scored a brace as Juventus came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1.
Salvai was left free to head in the equaliser in the first-half before netting an 86th-minute winner after poking in from a corner.
The 31-year-old also made 11 clearances, five recoveries and completed more passes (46) than any other player on the pitch.
Esmee Brugts – Barcelona
Barcelona were in ruthless form against Bayern Munich and Esmee Brugts was one of the Spanish side’s star performers, contributing to three goals on the night.
Brugts fired in Barcelona’s third goal from close range before setting up goals for Salma Paralluelo and Claudia Pina.
She was a constant threat for Bayern Munich making 11 passes into the final third.
Midfielders
Melchie Dumornay – Lyon
Lyon midfielder Melchie Dumornay twice punished mistakes from Arsenal to hand the three points to Lyon.
Dumornay equalised after Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar passed the ball straight to her. Then five minutes later, she fired in an effort from the edge of the box after a catalogue of errors from the Arsenal defence.
The Haiti midfielder also created three chances as Arsenal struggled to contain her on Tuesday night.
Melchie Dumornay has turned this game on its head for Lyon! 🤯
Two defensive errors punished by the visitors ⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/XAbwbJK2wj
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 7, 2025
Alexia Putellas – Barcelona
Similar to Brugts, Barcelona star Alexia Putellas contributed to three goals in Barcelona’s 7-1 triumph over Bayern Munich.
It took just four minutes for Putellas to score Barcelona’s opener with a brilliant curling effort from outside the box.
She then set up goals for Brugts and Ewa Pajor, as Barcelona got their Champions League campaign off to a perfect start.
Fiamma Benitez – Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid top the Champions League standings after Matchday 1 thanks to a 6-0 win over St Polten, with Fiamma Benitez contributing to three of the goals.
Benitez set up the opener for teammate Gio Garbellini inside five minutes, before scoring Atletico’s fifth and sixth goals.
She scored the fifth from the penalty spot before heading in the sixth with the final touch of the game. Benitez also created more chances than any other player with five.
Forwards
Luany – Atletico Madrid
Luany also had a big say in Atletico Madrid’s win over St Polten, bagging a goal and an assist.
She tapped home Atletico’s third goal from close range before assisting Vilde Boe Risa’s stunning fourth goal.
The 22-year-old Brazilian could have had more assists to her name after creating four chances during the match.
Ewa Pajor – Barcelona
Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor scored their second and fifth goals during the 7-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich.
Pajor now has 51 goals in 55 appearances since joining Barcelona in the summer of 2024.
There is a strong argument for Pajor being the best striker in women’s football based on current goalscoring form.
Linda Caicedo – Real Madrid
Completing the Team of the Week for Matchday 1 in the Women’s Champions League is Real Madrid attacker Linda Caicedo.
The 20-year-old Colombian provided a hat-trick of assists during Real Madrid’s 6-2 victory over AS Roma.
Caicedo constantly ran at the Roma defence, with five chances created in total and was unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet.
