Benfica vs Rosengård match facts

Benfica and Rosengård, the respective champions of Portugal and Sweden, meet on Matchday 3 with both teams seeking to get off the mark in UEFA Women's Champions League Group D after defeats in their opening two fixtures.

Benfica, who became the first Portuguese side to reach the last 16 of this competition in 2021/22, finished third in last season's Group D behind eventual champions Lyon and Bayern München.

The Eagles, who sealed back-to-back Campeonato Nacional Feminino titles last term, overcame Kosovan side Hajvalia (9-0) and Dutch title holders Twente (2-1) in round 1 of qualifying before claiming a 5-3 aggregate success against Scottish champions Rangers in round 2 (3-2 a, 2-1 h aet). However, they went down 9-0 to 2020/21 champions Barcelona at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Matchday 1, their heaviest European defeat, before surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 in added time at home to Bayern München, goals from Nycole Raysla and Cloé Lacasse ultimately proving in vain.

Rosengård had to come from behind to draw 1-1 in the first leg of their round 2 qualifier against Norwegian side Brann before a 3-1 home victory took them into the group stage for the first time.

The Damallsvenskan champions of the last two years then took a surprise Matchday 1 lead against Bayern in Munich thanks to Loreta Kullashi's 25th-minute header before losing 2-1, and on Matchday 2 they were beaten 4-1 at home by Barcelona, Olivia Holdt's consolation goal the first conceded by the visitors in seven UEFA Women's Champions League group games.

Benfica's faced Swedish opposition in last season's group stage in the shape of Häcken, also home and away on Matchdays 3 and 4. Benfica lost the home game 1-0 but then won 2-1 in Gothenburg with Cloé Lacasse striking early and Catarina Amado clinching victory in added time.

Rosengård are meeting Portuguese opposition for the first time in this competition.

Players to watch

Nycole Raysla

The 22-year-old Brazil international wears the iconic No9 shirt for Benfica and is now in her third season with the Lisbon club.

Raysla joined Benfica in 2019 and helped the club to their first Campeonato Nacional Feminino title in 2020/21, repeating the feat in 2021/22.

The striker has scored in each of her three UEFA Women's Champions League campaigns for the Lisbon club.

Her double in a 2-1 away win against Anderlecht in the 2020/21 second qualifying round took Benfica into the round of 32 for the first time.

Last season she scored in qualifying matches against both Racing and Twente, and this term struck her first group stage goal to open the scoring in the Matchday 2 home defeat by Bayern.

Gudrún Arnardóttir

The 27-year-old Icelandic international centre-back joined Rosengård midway through the 2021 Damallsvenskan season from Djurgården.

She helped the Malmö club to a league title success in both 2021 and 2022, starting all 26 matches in this year's triumph.

Arnardóttir has also played every minute of Rosengård's six matches in the UEFA Women's Champions League since her arrival, including the two Group D games against Bayern and Barcelona.

An Icelandic youth international at Under-17 and U19 level, she has played senior international football for her country since 2019.

She was part of Iceland's squad at UEFA Women's EURO 2022, starting the first two matches against Belgium and Italy – both 1-1 draws.

Key facts

The Portuguese side have won only one of their eight UEFA Women's Champions League group stage matches (D1 L6), losing the last five.

Benfica have failed to score in five of their eight group games, ending a three-match scoreless sequence with their two goals against Bayern last time out.

The Lisbon club have yet to win a home group game (D1 L3).

Rosengård have won only one of their last eight UEFA Women's Champions League matches (D2 L5) and are without an away win in the last four (D2 L2).