Women's Champions League Matchday 1: Arsenal vs HB Køge Women facts
Friday, September 18, 2026
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Arsenal's latest campaign in the UEFA Women's Champions League begins against HB Køge Women at Meadow Park, with the Danish visitors making their second appearance at this stage.
Last match
Paired together in the 2021/22 group stage, Arsenal beat HB Køge 5-1 in Denmark and 3-0 in England. Caitlin Foord scored in both matches with Steph Catley on target in Denmark and Lotte Wubben-Moy finding the net in the Gunners' home win.
Those two victories extended Arsenal's unbeaten run against Danish sides to five matches (W4 D1) having lost their first three such encounters. They have won two of the three fixtures staged in England, their only defeat coming against Fortuna Hjørring in the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Cup in April 2003 – a 1-5 reverse in Barnet completing a 2-8 aggregate defeat.
The pair of defeats by Arsenal in November 2021 are HB Køge's only previous matches against English opponents.
Arsenal lifted the Women's Champions League trophy in 2024/25 after Stina Blackstenius scored the only goal of the game against holders Barcelona in Lisbon. It was their second European title after overcoming Umeå in a two-legged final in 2006/07. They are the only English side to reach two European finals.
This is the Londoners' 19th participation in the Women's Champions League. Their title defence ended at the semi-final stage last season – their ninth appearance in the last four – with a 3-4 aggregate defeat against OL Lyonnes (2-1 h, 1-3 a).
HB Køge's only previous group stage/league phase appearance in the Women's Champions League came in 2021/22, when they lost all six games in a section containing Barcelona, Arsenal and Hoffenheim.
The Danish outfit defeated Riga (4-1) and Hearts (2-1) in this season's second qualifying round before a 2-1 aggregate success against PSV Eindhoven (1-0 a, 1-1 h) booked their place in the league phase.
Key stats
Arsenal have won nine of their last 11 Women's Champions League group stage/league phase matches (L2), and nine of 12 at home (L3).
The Gunners have lost their Matchday 1 fixture in three of their four Women's Champions League group stage/league phase campaigns (W1).
With 19 goals, Alessia Russo is the joint second-highest English scorer in the competition's history, level with Toni Duggan and behind only Fran Kirby (21).
HB Køge have lost only one of their last nine European games (W7 D1).
The Danish side have scored in each of their last ten fixtures in UEFA competition.