UEFA's new Women's Champions League featuring a 16-team group stage for the first time was given a rousing start by defending champions Barcelona who crushed Arsenal 4-1 in an impressive display on Tuesday.
Group stage matchday 1 on October 5:
Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal
Hoffenheim 5-0 HB Koge
Haecken 0-3 Lyon
Benfica 0-0 Bayern
Lyon's Ada Hegerberg (R) looks on during the UEFA Women's Champions League group match between Lyon and Haecken at Bravida Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden, October 5, 2021. /CFP
Former women's Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg made her long-awaited return for seven-time champions Lyon.
Hegerberg, the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or winner in 2018, ended a 20-month injury absence, coming on for teammate Catarina Macario.
With 53 goals, Hegerberg is the all-time top-scorer in the competition but the 26-year-old Norway attacker has been out of action since January 2020 after rupturing a cruciate ligament in her right knee and then suffering a left tibia stress fracture.
Lyon's streak of five straight Champions League titles was ended in the quarterfinals last season by Paris Saint-Germain, who also pipped Lyon to the French crown.
UEFA reveals the group stage draw of the Women's Champions League 2021/22 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, September 13, 2021. /CFP
(With input from agencies)