Arsenal start Women’s Champions League title defense on the wrong foot with 2-1 defeat to Lyon; Barcelona thrash Bayern

LONDON:Defensive mistakes cost Arsenal again as they kicked off their defense of the Women’s Champions League title with a 2-1 home loss to Lyon on Tuesday.

Alessia Russo gave Arsenal an early lead before Melchie Dumornay’s quick double turned the match around for record eight-time winner Lyon in the first round of matches of the new-look tournament.

After the men switched from a group phase to a league-based format last season, the Women’s Champions League made the move, too.

Barcelona, who lost to Arsenal in the final last season, thrashed Bayern Munich 7-1 in one of three other matches on Tuesday.

Arsenal had a tricky start to the domestic season and failed to win their previous three matches but they took the lead in the seventh minute against Lyon thanks to two of their European Championship-winning players.

Pure persistence from Beth Mead saw her force her way into the area, drawing several players before laying it off to England teammate Russo to fire across into the bottom right corner.

Arsenal gifted the visitors the equalizer in the 18th minute when Daphne van Domselaar controlled a back pass but played it straight to Dumornay. The Arsenal goalkeeper thought she had redeemed herself by saving the attempt but Dumornay slotted the rebound past her and into an empty net.

A defensive lapse cost Arsenal again five minutes later, allowing Dumornay to curl into the top right corner.

Lyon lost to Arsenal in last season’s semifinals.

The 18-team league phase ends in December. Teams that finish first to fourth in the standings advance directly to the quarterfinals. Those ranked Nos. 5 to 12 go to a knockout playoff round. The bottom six teams are eliminated.

Pina’s return

Substitute Clàudia Pina returned from