Alessia Russo hat-trick sends Arsenal past Benfica and into the record books

Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick, three goals in one match, as Arsenal beat Benfica 3-0 in the Women's Champions League. The win also made Russo England's all-time leading goalscorer in the competition.

Going into the game, Russo had 20 Champions League goals, one short of the England record held by Fran Kirby. Russo's three goals took her past that mark, and she now sits at the top of the list for English players in the tournament. The Women's Champions League is the top club competition in European women's football, and it runs alongside the men's version each season.

The second goal came from a clever piece of play. Chloe Kelly delivered an inventive free-kick, a set-piece taken from a stoppage in play, and Russo finished it. A free-kick can be a tricky ball to turn into a goal, and Kelly's delivery gave Russo a clear chance to make it count.

Arsenal and Benfica have met before in this competition. Arsenal won that earlier tie 2-0, with Russo on the scoresheet and Beth Mead also scoring. This time the visitors and hosts were not as close, and Arsenal's three goals were enough to settle the match.

For Arsenal, the result keeps them moving in the group stage, the opening part of the tournament where teams play a set number of matches before knockout rounds begin. For Russo, the night is a personal milestone that will stay with her and with English fans who have followed her career. Football has a way of making one striker's good night feel like a shared memory for thousands of people, even those who were not in the stadium.

Russo's hat-trick also adds to a strong season for Arsenal's attack. Three goals in a single European night is rare, and the way she took her chances was the story of the evening.