Arsenal Women vs Oud-Heverlee Leuven Ladies; Women's Champions League Knockout Play-offs
Arsenal Women vs Oud-Heverlee Leuven Ladies. Women's Champions League Knockout Play-offs.
Managata Pay UK StadiumAttendance2,634.
Arsenal Women 3
- A Russo (23rd minute, 90th minute)
- M Caldentey Oliver (65th minute pen)
Oud-Heverlee Leuven Ladies 1
- S Pusztai (29th minute)
7-1
Arsenal 3-1 OH Leuven (Agg 7-1): Alessia Russo at the double as Gunners set up Women's Champions League showdown with Chelsea
Report as Alessia Russo strikes twice and Mariona Caldentey scores a penalty to help Arsenal into Women's Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Chelsea; wet and windy conditions made for a tricky night and Sara Pusztai netted for Leuven but Gunners progressed
Thursday 19 February 2026 07:25, UK
Arsenal overcame a spirited OH Leuven side and tricky conditions at Meadow Park to set up a Women's Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea, thanks to a 3-1 win over the Belgian champions and 7-1 triumph on aggregate.
The Gunners are into the competition's last eight for a joint-record 17th time and will go into a mouth-watering two-leg showdown with their London rivals full of belief they can continue their defence of the crown, given their latest big win in Europe and unbeaten record against Chelsea in the WSL this season.
"So exciting and a team we are so familiar with," Alessia Russo told Disney+ when asked about the tie against Chelsea.
"To play Chelsea, an English team, probably something that we are not so used to in the quarter-finals, will be amazing. Two top teams coming up against each other for a place in the semi-final. It's unreal."
Arsenal's progress to that blockbuster clash was never in doubt on Wednesday given their 4-0 first-leg lead over Leuven - but it proved a trickier night than expected, with rain lashing down and wind gusting across a cut-up pitch.
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Alessia Russo's swivel and finish from inside the box after 23 minutes suggested another thrashing could be coming but Leuven forced Arsenal into some sloppy mistakes and levelled when Sara Pusztai's close-range strike was given following a VAR intervention to overrule an offside call in the build-up.
Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar had earlier been forced into a sharp one-on-one stop to deny Jada Conijnenberg and was exposed on a couple more occasions before the break.
But Arsenal, who could have added another in the first half through Frida Maanum's point-blank header, were more assured in the second period, and Mariona Caldentey's penalty finally knocked the stuffing out of their visitors.
Caitlin Foord won the spot-kick with one of her many dribbles down the left and she was one of several Arsenal players who went close before Russo slid in her second of the night in the final seconds, as Renee Slegers' side finished well and truly on top.
Russo excited by Chelsea quarter-final for 'positive' Arsenal
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo is relishing the "unreal" prospect of a blockbuster Women's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.
"So exciting and a team we are so familiar with," Russo told Disney+.
"When you play Champions League football and get closer towards the final you come up against really tough teams.
"To play Chelsea, an English team, probably something that we are not so used to in the quarter-finals, will be amazing. Two top teams coming up against each other for a place in the semi-final. It's unreal.
"We are playing well, we are playing good football and that breeds confidence in everyone.
"We are winning as well, we are grinding out results in different ways and everyone is contributing in different ways, so I think the feeling around the whole team in general is really positive."
