Benfica awaits Austria Wien

It’s finally time for another international away match. Following an unexpected postponement due to weather warnings, the Veilchen will remain in Lisbon for an extra day. There, they will face Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, where the hosts are set to provide another stern test for Austria. This fourth UWCL league-phase encounter will take place on Thursday, November 12, at 9:00 PM (8:00 PM local time). The official UWCL broadcaster, Disney+, will provide live coverage, and fans can also follow the match from the comfort of their own homes via ORF Sport+.

The clouds hung low as Stefan Kenesei’s team set off for the airport on Tuesday morning. Although the weather forecast for Lisbon didn’t promise much more sunshine, the prospect of mild temperatures helped build a sense of anticipation. Following two recent UWCL home matches at the Franz-Horr-Stadion, the Veilchen are now back on the road. However, their spirits were dampened shortly after landing in Lisbon when the team received some bitter news: due to weather warnings regarding Storm Charles, the match could not go ahead as planned on Wednesday. Fortunately, a new date was quickly arranged, and the fixture will now take place one day later, on November 12 at 9:00 PM* (8:00 PM local time).

Benfica: A Dominant Force

Their opponents this Thursday are none other than Benfica Lisbon—a true powerhouse in Portuguese women’s football. Founded in 2018 with the goal of shaking up the Portuguese league, the team has been doing exactly that for several years now; last season, they secured their sixth consecutive Portuguese league title.

The Portuguese side’s squad is notable for its high level of international diversity, featuring players from Norway, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and beyond, alongside their Portuguese teammates. One former Veilchen is also well-acquainted with the club: Anna Gasper played in Portugal until last season, spending a total of three and a half years at Benfica.

Lisbon Side Sits 12th in the UWCL Standings

In this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase, coach Ivan Baptista’s team has recorded one win and two defeats so far, leaving them in 12th place in the standings. Benfica is now determined to secure the next three points. The Veilchen are also playing for a win. Following a 1-4 defeat in their last home match against Juventus, the team is now looking to secure some points. Head coach Stefan Kenesei knows that this will be no easy task: "At this level, there are no easy opponents. Benfica are regulars in the Champions League—having reached the quarter-finals in the past—and they have already beaten Juventus Turin this season in the UWCL. That alone speaks to the quality of their side. Nevertheless, I believe that if we can replicate the performance we showed in our first two matches—and at times against Juventus—by bringing the same intensity and courage to the pitch, then a positive result is possible. We want to dream big and test ourselves against the best teams. Benfica is one of them, but everything has to go right if we are to head home with points in the bag."

Further comments ahead of the clash can be found here. The match will take place on Thursday at 9:00 PM* at the Estádio da Luz. All relevant information for traveling fans is available here. The game will be broadcast live on Disney+ and ORF Sport+.