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☆ Barcelona Femení: Reigning champion defeats Benfica 5-0 to kick off Women’s Champions League campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Barcelona Femení kicked off its defense of its Women’s Champions League crown in style, defeating Benfica 5-0 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Barcelona dominated throughout and rarely looked troubled: it had 60% possession and attempted 20 shots, compared to Benfica’s five, according to UEFA. Not everything was positive on the night for Barça as two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas appeared to suffer a knee injury. Oshoala's incredible effort capped off a comfortable night for the two-time Women's Champions League winners. David Ramos/Getty Images“It’s good to start the season of the Champions League like this with our people here and scoring five goals,” Bonmatí told DAZN after the final whistle.

Persons: CNN — Barcelona Femení, Johan Cruyff, Alexia Putellas, Aitana, Asisat Oshoala, – Barça, Cata Coll, Caroline Graham Hansen, Putellas, Bonmatí, Lena Pauels, Ballon, David Ramos, “, ”, Jonatan Giráldez, Oshoala, Pauels, ” Bonmatí, DAZN, Rosengård Organizations: CNN — Barcelona, Champions League, Benfica, –, Barcelona, UEFA, Getty, Putellas, ”, Eintracht Frankfurt Locations: Europe, Barcelona, DAZN, Nigerian, ” Barcelona, Sweden

☆ Chiamaka Nnadozie: Her father didn’t want her to play soccer. Nigerian star defied him and rewrote the record books
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Michael Johnston | Amanda Davies | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s been a long, winding road from a small semi-urban town in Nigeria to the World Cup knockout stages. Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images‘I was crying’The Nigerian goalkeeper rose to stardom after becoming the youngest-ever goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at a Women’s World Cup back in the 2019. Only 19 years old at the time, Nnadozie played three games in France, showcasing confidence and authority on a level more commonly associated with seasoned professionals. Nnadozie saves a penalty against Christine Sinclair of Canada at the FIFA Women's World Cup. “When I saw the post, for me, I think she made a good point.”Nnadozie catches a cross while being challenged by France's Kadidiatou Diani at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

Persons: Chiamaka, –, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Nnadozie, It’s, Cathrin Mueller, ” Nnadozie, ’, Randy Waldrum’s, Christine Sinclair, Sinclair, parrying, Morgan Hancock, Alessia Russo, Frida Manuum, Wolfsburg’s Dominique Janssen, ”, ‘, Mary Earps, Chile’s Christiane Endler, France's Kadidiatou Diani, Stephane Mahe, “ Organizations: CNN, Paris FC, Nigeria, World, UEFA Women's, League, VfL Wolfsburg, Getty, ’ ” Nigeria, FIFA, England, Canada, Super Falcons, Women’s Champions League, Arsenal, Paris, Wolfsburg, Women’s, Reuters Locations: Nigeria, Wolfsburg, Germany, Europe, France, Australia, Canada, Randy Waldrum’s Nigeria, Jordan, Nnadozie, England

☆ Roma's Haavi relishes chance to build on Women's Champions League experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

STOCKHOLM, Oct 10 (Reuters) - AS Roma forward Emilie Haavi cannot wait for another crack at the Women's Champions League after falling at the quarter-final stage last season, as they prepare to face Vorskla in a qualifying clash on Wednesday. The addition of the Norwegian provided a boost for Roma's attack, and they made last season's Women's Champions League quarter-finals after finishing second in their group behind German powerhouses VfL Wolfsburg. POSITIVE EXPERIENCE"I think it was a very positive experience last year, the whole Champions League was a little adventure for us. We had a little bit of luck with the draw, at the same time as we met a good level of opposition,” Haavi explained. Haavi believes the likes of Roma are getting closer to their European rivals thanks to the games they play against them.

Persons: Emilie Haavi, Haavi, LSK Kvinner, ”, Roa, I've, ” Haavi, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Roma, Stadio Tre Fontane, Philip O'Connor, Toby Davis Organizations: AS Roma, Women's, League, Roma, Olimpico, Reuters, Roa IL, Serie, VfL Wolfsburg, Champions League, Stadio, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Norway, Italy, France, Norwegian, Barcelona

☆ Christiane Endler: Chile’s football federation criticized for handling of star player’s 100th appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The Chilean football federation (ANFP) has been criticized for its handling of a star player’s 100th appearance for the women’s national team. On Tuesday, Endler, the team’s captain and goalkeeper, made history by becoming the first player to reach 100 caps for the Chile women’s national team in a 2-1 victory over New Zealand. One more for you guys,” Chile national team player Daniela Pardo replied to the graphic on Instagram. Endler captained Chile at its first ever Women's World Cup in 2019. That she has been able to achieve so much is remarkable, coming from a country whose federation has sometimes overlooked its women’s national team.

Persons: Christiane Endler, Endler, “, Edgar Merino, Pablo Milad, ” Milad, Justin Tallis, Tiane, Daniela Pardo, Claudio Bravo, Endler hasn’t, Michael Chow, ” Endler, Germain, Harold Cunningham, FIFPro, Gabriel Boric, ” Camila Garcia, ” Organizations: CNN, Chilean, women’s, Chile women’s, New, New Zealand, Lyon, Women's Champions League, Getty, Chile’s Sports Commission, La Tercera, Chile national, Chile men’s, South, Estadio Nacional, Argentina, Santiago’s, USA, Network, Reuters, ADN, FIFA, Paris Saint, Champions League, America Femenina, Ministry, Labour Locations: Chile, New Zealand, France, La, South American, Santiago’s La Florida, La Florida, Paris, Lyon, Chilean, Haiti

☆ Spain's soccer president resigns 3 weeks after kissing player at Women's World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Once the most powerful man in Spanish soccer, Rubiales insisted the kiss was consensual and done in a "moment of jubilation." "The former president of the Spanish soccer federation has done what he had to do," Spain's Secretary of State for Sport Víctor Francos told Spain's Cadena SER radio. Rubiales said that he had told interim Spanish federation president Pedro Rocha — who replaced him when Rubiales was suspended on Aug. 26 — of his resignation late Sunday night. The uproar against Rubiales coincides with a strike by Spain's women's league as its players call for higher wages. Those included the coaches of Spain's women's and men's teams.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Reuters Luis Rubiales, Spain's, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Sport Víctor Francos, Spain's Cadena, Pedro Rocha —, Piers Morgan, Britain's, Luis, Morgan, Letizia, Princess Sofía, Spain —, –, — Rubiales, Alexia Putellas Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, Reuters, Spain, England, FIFA, Twitter, Rubiales, State, Sport Víctor, Spain's Cadena SER, UEFA, Women's Nations, Pachuca, Barcelona, League, Ballon, Saudi Locations: Spanish, Sydney, Australia, Portugal, Morocco, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Europe, Ballon d'Or, Africa, Madrid

☆ Haaland wins UEFA award, Wiegman dedicates prize to Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wiegman dedicated her award to the Spain women's team after the kiss incident involving federation president Luis Rubiales took the spotlight when Spain secured their first Women's World Cup title. "I would like to dedicate this award to the Spanish team - the tam that played in a World Cup such great football that everyone enjoys. World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati, who helped Barcelona to Women's Champions League and Spanish league title, won the women's player of the year award. The 25-year-old registered a competition-high 13 goal contributions in the Champions League with five goals and eight assists. "We have just won the World Cup, but they are talking about other things."

Persons: Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland, Massimo Pinca, Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola, Aitana Bonmati, Sarina Wiegman, Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Guardiola, Luciano Spalletti, Napoli, Simone Inzaghi, Wiegman, Luis Rubiales, there's, Sarina, Bonmati, Anita Kobylinska, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, Monaco, FC Barcelona's Aitana, Rights, Manchester City, UEFA, City, Champions League, English Premier League, FA, Association, Serie, Inter, SPAIN England, Brazil, Wembley, Spain women's, Spanish, Women's Champions League, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Spanish, Norwegian, Monaco, Inter Milan, SPAIN, Spain, Barcelona, Gdansk

☆ Bonmati, Carmona and Kerr to vie for UEFA Player of the Year award
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bonmati and Carmona were part of the Spain team which beat England 1-0 to win the Women's World Cup on Sunday. Bonmati had a stellar domestic campaign with Barcelona, helping the club seal a fourth consecutive Spanish League title as well as winning the Women's Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup. Forward Kerr scored 29 goals in all competitions last season as Chelsea won their fourth consecutive FA Women's Super League title as well as the Women's FA Cup. She also reached the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup with Australia. UEFA also announced the candidates for Women's Coach of the Year, with Barcelona's Jonatan Giraldez, Spain's Jorge Vilda and England's Sarina Wiegman the three final nominees.

Persons: Hannah Mckay, Sam Kerr of, Aitana Bonmati, Olga Carmona, Bonmati, Carmona, Forward Kerr, Barcelona's Jonatan, Spain's Jorge Vilda, Sarina, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, Chelsea, Spain, Spanish League, Women's Champions League, Spanish, Madrid, Barcelona, Copa, la Reina, Women's FA, Australia, UEFA, Women's, League, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Sydney, Sam Kerr of Australia, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Monaco, Bengaluru

☆ Sleeping giants Spain awaken at Women's World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Tuesday, "La Roja" shrugged off that record of underachievement with a rousing 2-1 win over Sweden to reach the final of the Women's World Cup for the first time. Having failed to even qualify for the World Cup until Canada in 2015, Spain have electrified Australia and New Zealand with 17 goals and a lively, attacking game. Their rise has mirrored the revival of European football at a tournament once dominated by the United States. Yet La Rojas' trip to this World Cup final has generated headlines in Spain and sent fans into a frenzy on social media. Spain have momentum on their side, and not only at the World Cup.

Persons: Jorge Vilda, Amanda Perobelli, who’s, La Rojas, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo, Mapi Leon, Vilda, Peter Gerhardsson, Ian Ransom, Robert Birsel Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, World, Rights MELBOURNE, Canada, Sweden, England, Spanish, Liga, Barcelona, League, Spain, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Eden, Auckland , New Zealand, Australia, United States, Sydney, Barcelona, Netherlands, Vilda, Melbourne

☆ Asian confederation boosts prize fund in revamped club competition from 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kicking off in September 2024, the leading 24 club sides from across the continent will play in the new AFC Champions League Elite, with the winners earning US$12 million. The AFC Champions League Elite headlines a new three-tier set-up and replaces the existing format, in which clubs complete in either the AFC Champions League or the secondary AFC Cup. "Today the AFC is embarking on a new and historic era with these forward-looking initiatives in both men's and women's Asian club football," AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said in a statement. Details about the AFC Women's Champions League, including start date, prize fund and the number of clubs involved, have yet to revealed. The playoff rounds of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League, the last under the current model, are due to kick off on Tuesday.

Persons: Marius Hoibraten, Alexander Scholz, Issei Kato, HONG KONG, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Michael Church, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Soccer Football, AFC, League, Diamonds, Urawa, AFC Champions League REUTERS, Asian Football Confederation, Champions League, AFC Champions League Elite, US, League Elite, AFC Champions League, AFC Challenge League, AFC Women's Champions League, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Saitama, Japan, HONG, Asia

☆ Putellas fit and ready to go for Spain's World Cup campaign - coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"All players are available to play tomorrow," Vilda said via a translator at a media conference in Wellington on Thursday. "In the case of Alexia, it's optimising all the training sessions that we've had to have Alexia with us. "We are very careful with everything that we do and we're trying every possible means so that Alexia would be in condition to play tomorrow." The Barcelona midfielder is expected to be a key cog in Spain's third World Cup campaign where they are favourites to top Group C ahead of Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan. Spain were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champions, the United States, in France in 2019, four years after failing to reach the knockout phase on their World Cup debut in 2015.

Persons: Johan Cruyff, Sant Joan Despi, FC Barcelona's Alexia Putellas, Ballon, Albert Gea, Alexia Putellas, Jorge Vilda, Putellas, Vilda, Alexia, it's, we've, Ian Ransom Organizations: Soccer, League, FC Barcelona, Benfica, FC Barcelona's, REUTERS, Costa, eventual, Thomson Locations: Spain, AUCKLAND, Costa Rica, Wellington, Barcelona, Zambia, Japan, United States, France, Melbourne

There have been 195 ACL injuries across women soccer’s top leagues, according to the ACL Women Football Club. “It’s not a coincidence I think that you get Leah and Beth injured after the Euros last summer,” said Arsenal star Miedema. Miedema believes this was an issue that world soccer’s governing body FIFA must address. A British Journal of Sports Medicine study found women to be three to six times more likely to experience an ACL injury than men. European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, referenced to CNN the Women’s Health Expert Panel it established, which has a “high priority” researching ACL injuries.

Persons: Vivianne, –, Miedema, we’ve, It’s, ” Miedema, CNN’s Christina Macfarlane, – Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Laura Wienroither, Canada’s Janine Beckie, Catarina Macario, France’s Delphine Cascarino, Ryan Pierse, ”, Pep, “, “ You’ll, Williamson –, “ It’s, Leah, Beth, “ They’ve, they’re, Leah Williamson, Clive Rose, Jonas Eidevall, Miedema’s Organizations: CNN, Arsenal, Women Football Club, United States Women’s National, League, English Premier League, FA, Champions League, England, ”, FIFA, of Sports Medicine, UEFA, Women’s, English Football Association, Super League, Barclays Women’s, Nottingham Trent University Locations: Netherlands, Man, Switzerland

☆ Women’s Champions League final: Pain of defeat ‘motivating’ Barcelona ahead of clash with Wolfsburg
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The pain of defeat from last season’s Women’s Champions League final has lingered at Barcelona. Even faced with a resurgent Lyon, Barcelona was expected to come out on top. Ingrid Engen has now lost two Champions League finals, one with Wolfsburg and one with Barcelona. Barcelona won the first Women's Champions League title in the club's history in 2021. Playing in a Champions League final will be a great moment in our careers.

Persons: Ingrid Engen, Lyon, Alejandro Rios, don’t, ” Engen, “ It’s, ”, Barça, Lucy Bronze, Clive Brunskill, FIFA’s, Jonatan Giráldez, “, Engen, you’ve, Lena Oberdorf, I’ve, Oberdorf, –, Tommy Stroot, ” Stroot, David Lidstrom Organizations: CNN, League, Champions League, Lyon, Wolfsburg, Engen, Barcelona, CNN Sport, Bayern Munich –, Chelsea, Women's Champions League, Barcelona ’, Norway, Young, Ballon, “, UEFA Locations: Barcelona, Turin, Lyon, Eindhoven, Netherlands, Wolfsburg

☆ Barca's Putellas back in squad after long-term knee injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas has returned to Barcelona's squad for Thursday's second leg of their women's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea after a knee injury sidelined her for almost 10 months. Putellas, who returned to training at the end of March, last played for Barca in their 6-1 cup final win over Sporting de Huelva in May 2022, before she tore her anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out of the women's European Championship. The 29-year-old has received the green light to return, Barcelona said on Wednesday, and has been named in the 26-player squad for Thursday's game. Barcelona edged Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Caroline Graham Hansen's early strike. Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wolfsburg held 2-2 after Arsenal rally in Champions League semi
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - First Leg - VfL Wolfsburg v Arsenal - Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany - April 23, 2023 Arsenal's Rafaelle celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Cathrin MuellerWOLFSBURG, Germany, April 23 (Reuters) - Twice European champions VfL Wolfsburg let a two-goal lead slip against Arsenal as the visitors fought back to earn a 2-2 draw in Sunday's Women's Champions League semi-final first leg. Unbelievable result to get back from 2-0 down," said Arsenal defender Jen Beattie, who was player of the match. Arsenal looked to recover from the blow but the Germans doubled their lead five minutes later after a defensive mistake. Wolfsburg immediately began piling more pressure on the visitors, with Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall willing his team to push up as they were forced deeper into their own half. In the other semi-final, Barcelona edged Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

☆ Women's Champions League: Barcelona takes 1-0 lead over Chelsea in semifinal in front of a record-breaking crowd
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Barcelona took a step forward to reaching the Women’s Champions League final by defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of their semifinal clash. In front of 27,697 fans at Stamford Bridge – a record crowd for a women’s Champions League game in the UK – Barcelona took the lead in the fourth minute thanks to Caroline Graham Hansen’s brilliant goal and never relinquished it. But the Blues regrouped after conceding the early goal, engineering chances for Guto Reiten and Sam Kerr, and banishing any thoughts of a similar collapse against Barcelona in the 2021 Champions League final when it lost 4-0. A record-breaking crowd watched Barcelona's victory at Stamford Bridge. Harriet Lander/Chelsea FC/Getty Images“I can’t ask any more of the players,” Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told the club website afterwards.

☆ Top DAZN exec reveals how the streamer is gearing up to super-serve fans in 2023, moving beyond boxing, and betting big on women's sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

We've also invested heavily in women's boxing. You are starting to see real, meaningful growth in women's sport now and that comes in different forms. The professionalism of the production in women's sport, we've been central to driving that forward. In the US, boxing fans in this country are disproportionately Hispanic relative to the wider population. The real business for us is the ongoing monthly subscription relationship that we have with boxing fans in this country, or soccer fans in Germany or Italy, and baseball fans in Japan.

☆ Messi headlines shortlist for FIFA Best Men's Player award
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Messi, along with his Paris St Germain team mate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, were among the 14 players shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's Player award, the world governing body said on Thursday. Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist. Sarina Wiegman, who led England to last year's European Championship title, is joined on The Best FIFA Women's Coach shortlist by Chelsea's Emma Hayes and Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Aston Villa's Martinez are among the nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award. FIFA also announced an 11-player shortlist for this year's Puskas Award for the "most beautiful" goal of the year, with Mbappe's spectacular volley against Argentina in the World Cup final among the nominees.

☆ Women's Champions League final sold out for first time since 2009-10
▼ + stars: | 2009-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - VfL Wolfsburg v Barcelona - Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany - April 30, 2022 Barcelona's Leila Ouahabi in action with VfL... Read moreMay 16 (Reuters) - The Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg has become the first final to be sold out since 2009-10, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Tuesday. "This is the first time we have fully sold out a Women's Champions League final. Barcelona are in the Women's Champions League final for the third straight time and the fourth in five seasons, having won the title in 2020-2021. Women's football has seen a huge increase in fan interest and crowd attendance, with the Women's FA Cup final on Sunday hosting a crowd of 77,390 - the highest attendance for a domestic women's match in England. Last year, a record 91,648 fans turned up for a women's match as Barcelona beat Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou.

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