Record-breaking beating for Lyon! Women's Champions League winners & losers as Arsenal make history and Barcelona run riot

When the team news came out for Arsenal's game away at Lyon, it required a double-take. Vivianne Miedema, the Gunners' star player, was on the bench.

With Miedema deployed in midfield under Jonas Eidevall and that area needing some defensive reinforcement against the reigning champions, it was a sensible decision.

Playing Stina Blackstenius instead of the Dutchwoman as a centre-forward made some sense, too, as the Swede's movement off the shoulder and in behind the depleted Lyon defence would cause the hosts problems.

However, had Arsenal lost the game, it would no doubt be a stick to beat the coach with; a choice to be scrutinised. It was extremely bold in a huge game against top opposition – but it paid off.

Frida Maanum, who came in for Miedema in the middle, had perhaps her best game in an Arsenal shirt, while Blackstenius was exactly the threat Eidevall would've wanted.

It was no bad reflection on Miedema herself, just simply an excellent performance by the coach on a night where his tactical decisions were brilliant and his well-prepared game plan was wonderfully executed by his players.

A biggest ever defeat in Europe. The most goals ever conceded in a home game. A result that matched the club's worst ever defeat in any competition. Wednesday was a record-breaking day for Lyon – and not in the manner they have become so used to.

It is a concerning scoreline for a number of reasons. First of all, it is one that every club in Europe will take note of, so if and when they come up against Lyon, they will look at Arsenal's display to see how to beat this formidable side.

Secondly, it comes in a 'group of death'. Juventus, whom OL only beat by one goal in last year's quarter-finals, are also in this pool. Most games will be tight, so such a heavy defeat could have even bigger repercussions than usual.

However, this historic loss also exposed how badly this team is missing key players. For starters, Lyon have just two fit senior centre-backs.

They are also missing 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg and the generational talent of U.S. women's national team star Catarina Macario – among many others.

With a large handful of those absentees not expected back for a few months, it is a worrying situation to be in.

Now, it's up to head coach Sonia Bompastor to do the best she can with those available to navigate what will no doubt be a tricky path out of this group – if she can find it.

It's been a tricky start to life in Barcelona for Ingrid Engen, Norway's talented defensive midfielder.

She arrived in Catalunya last summer after a wonderful final season with Wolfsburg, having proven herself one of the best players in her position, and spent her first year at the club getting to grips with the Barca style.

However, just last month, the club paid a world-record fee for another excellent performer in that role – England's Keira Walsh.

It means Engen's competition for a place in the team is even tougher and that opportunities to show what she can do are even more important to take.

On Wednesday, she got one of those, starting against Benfica. Her display might not have been the headline-maker in a 9-0 victory, but it was quietly impressive and extremely tidy.

It was a reminder of why Barca signed her, what she can bring to the team and, all in all, her quality.

It's been a difficult start to the season for Paris Saint-Germain, a team dealing with the long-term absence of star striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, while getting used to the ideas of a new coach and integrating a number of new players.

France international Kadidiatou Diani was picked out by Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson as one of PSG's biggest threats before the two met on Thursday, and she has been in great form to make up for Katoto's spell on the sidelines so far this term, scoring four goals in five league games and two in three in Europe.

However, it was particularly apparent on matchday one of the UWCL group stage just how much she is missing her injured team-mate, a player she has formed such a deadly partnership with over the years.

So often those combinations between the PSG attackers were off-key on Thursday and in a game of few chances, it was even more apparent.

That Lieke Martens was also missing through illness was another blow on this occasion, but that chemistry between the forward players will need to develop quickly if the French side are going to unlock the goals required to escape one of this season's toughest groups.

Klara Buhl was one of the most outstanding players at the Euros this past summer, the 21-year-old superb in Germany's run to the final after an impressive season in the Frauen-Bundesliga, too.

However, with Bayern Munich appointing a new head coach ahead of the current campaign, in Alexander Straus, there have been changes in the system and Buhl hasn't had the impact we're used to seeing.

It has begged the question of whether Straus needs to find a role that brings the best out of her or whether the forward just needs a little time to get used to the different set-up. On Wednesday, there were hints that it might just be the latter.

Buhl came off the bench at half-time against Rosengard and immediately made a huge difference, taking up great positions out wide, putting good deliveries into the box and creating quality chances for her team-mates. Indeed, it was top work by her that led to the goal that decided the game in Bayern's favour.

Hopefully, it's a sign of more to come from one of Europe's most talented young players.

When St. Polten saw Wolfsburg's line-up for their clash on Thursday, they must've wondered what they'd done to anger the two-time European champions.

Ewa Pajor, one of the continent's deadliest centre-forwards, started up top alongside Jill Roord, the Dutchwoman who can be a lively second striker.

On the right was Sveindis Jonsdottir, perhaps the brightest talent of Iceland's exciting next generation, while Tabea Wassmuth, only outscored by Alexia Putellas in this competition last season, was on the left.

But that wasn't all. Alex Popp, who scored six goals in five games at this summer's Euros, took up a midfield role and there were even more threats on the bench, too, in young gun Jule Brand and experienced playmaker Svenja Huth.

This wasn't a Wolfsburg team that was just strong on paper, though. There was great rhythm to their attacking play in the 4-0 victory, particularly given the early stage of the season. Had it not been for the goalkeeper and the woodwork, it could've been even more.

Group B is the only one not to feature two 'giants' of Europe, with Roma and Slavia Prague making up the other two spots. If their first performance of the competition was anything to go by, then, Wolfsburg have the firepower to do some real damage to their opponents over these six matchdays.