Brann, Benfica reach last eight of Women's Champions League

Benfica could only draw at Rosengard but Eintracht Frankfurt's defeat by Barcelona later in the evening allowed them also to join Chelsea, Lyon and holders Barcelona in the last eight.

Brann made it through thanks to a second half own goal from Slavia goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova who could only parry a fierce drive from Signe Gaupset into her own net. "It is incredible. I do not think it has sunk in yet," said Brann captain Cecilie Kvamme.

"We've had quite a journey in the past 12 months and I am just so proud of all the girls for the way we've played in the Champions League. We are really excited to qualify for the quarter-finals."

Brann are second in Group B behind Lyon, who hammered St Polten 7-0 in Austria with Ada Hegerberg and Sara Dabritz both scoring twice. Vanessa Gilles, Dzsenifer Marozsan and substitute Kadidiatou Diani also found the back of the net.

 

January 25, 2024

Lyon will take top spot in the group whatever their result against Slavia Prague in the final round of games next week due to their superior head-to-head record against Brann.

Benfica also qualified for the last eight but were made to wait after a late goal from Rosengard's Japanese striker Mai Kadowaki denied them outright victory in Sweden.

Olivia Schough put the Swedes ahead early on, but goals from Jessica Silva and Marie-Yasmine Alidou appeared to have given Benfica the win they needed to stamp their ticket alongside Barcelona in Group A.

Kadowaki's late goal, however, meant it finished 2-2, leaving Benfica needing the Catalans to beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the later game. Barcelona duly delivered against some gutsy German pressing.

Patricia Guijarro netted the opener after 19 minutes and Norwegian winger Caroline Graham Hansen sealed the 2-0 win after 73 minutes, finding some space on the edge of the area before firing the ball into the net. Three places remain to be settled in the final round of group matches next week.

 

January 25, 2024