Maanum scores twice as Arsenal routs Leuven 4-0 in the first leg of Women’s Champions League playoff

LEUVEN, Belgium (AP) — Defending champion Arsenal took a big step toward the Women's Champions League quarterfinals by routing OH Leuven 4-0 in the first leg of their knockout playoff round on Wednesday.

After the victory in the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup on Feb 1, Arsenal dominated from the start in Belgium to close in on a quarterfinal meeting against London rival Chelsea.

Frida Maanum led the visitors with two goals, and Olivia Smith showed she was worth the record transfer fee Arsenal paid Liverpool for her in July. Also, Kim Little came on as substitute to play her 400th game for Arsenal.

Maanum headed in the opener after meeting a cross by Caitlin Foord from the right in the 22nd minute.

Smith doubled the advantage a quarter of an hour later with a clinical finish as the Canada forward found the far corner of the net with a first-time low shot. Maanum was left unmarked in the box to add her second, with Foord setting her up again early in the second half before substitute Alessia Russo completed the rout with her fifth of the campaign.

The revamped Women’s Champions League format has followed the men’s competition with an opening league phase of six rounds instead of eight.

The top four in the standings — Barcelona, Lyon, Chelsea and Bayern — advanced directly to the quarterfinals. Teams placed fifth to 12th went to the playoffs round.

Arsenal finished the league phase in fifth while Leuven was 12th in its first campaign in the European top competition.

The two met in the 18-team league phase with Arsenal beating Leuven 3-0 away.

Real Madrid remains on course for an all-Spanish quarterfinal against three-time champion Barcelona after coming from a goal down to win 3-2 at Paris FC.

After going behind in the 10th minute, Madrid needed just six minutes to turn the game around before halftime in the French capital.

Caroline Weir equalized on a rebound from close range in the 39th and Athenea’s low shot finished off a fast counter in the last minute of the first half to put the visitors ahead.

The 20-year-old forward Linda Caicedo controlled goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez’s long pass before before making it 3-1 in the 83rd before Maeline Mendy pulled a goal back in the 89th to narrow the deficit ahead of the second leg.

Paris had taken the lead through Kaja Korošec, who was at the far corner to volley the opener into the roof of the net off a corner kick from Maelle Garbino.

The remaining two playoffs, Wolfsburg vs. Juventus and Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester United are scheduled for Thursday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leuven's Zenia Mertens, left, fights for the ball with Arsenal's Frida Maanum, second left, during the women's Champions League knockout play-off soccer match between OH Leuven and Arsenal in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Leuven's goalkeeper Lowiese Seynhaeve, left, goes out for a save as she is challenged by Arsenal's Caitlin Foord, center, during the women's Champions League knockout play-off soccer match between OH Leuven and Arsenal in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Arsenal's Frida Maanum, second left, is congratulated by teammate Arsenal's Caitlin Foord after scoring her sides third goal during the women's Champions League knockout play-off soccer match between OH Leuven and Arsenal in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Leuven's Alixe Bosteels, left, fights for the ball against Arsenal's Katie McCabe during the women's Champions League knockout play-off soccer match between OH Leuven and Arsenal in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Arsenal players celebrate after Arsenal's Frida Maanum scored the opening goal during the women's Champions League knockout play-off soccer match between OH Leuven and Arsenal in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

MILAN (AP) — Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role by mutual consent on Friday, three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

The Italian soccer federation announced the news in a statement thanking Gattuso “for the dedication and passion” during his nine months in charge.

Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.

“With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over,” Gattuso said.

Gattuso’s departure comes a day after Italy’s soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned along with Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team’s delegation chief.

The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Spalletti had also overseen a disappointing European Championship campaign in 2024, when titleholder Italy was knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland.

“I would like to thank Gattuso once again," Gravina said. "Because, in addition to being a special person, as a coach he has offered a valuable contribution, managing to bring enthusiasm back to the national team in just a few months.

“He has conveyed great pride in the national team jersey to the players and to the whole country.”

Under Gattuso, Italy went on a six-match winning streak before another loss to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.

Gattuso had been given a contract until the end of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to soccer's biggest stage.

“The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset that exists in soccer, which is why it is right to immediately facilitate future coaching staff decisions,” Gattuso said.

“It was an honor to be able to lead the national team and do so also with a group of boys who have shown commitment and attachment to the shirt. The biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never failed to show their love and support for the national team in recent months.”

Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.

Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team. He left that role in October 2024 and is currently coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Inzaghi steered Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.

Allegri is coach at AC Milan.

Italy will play two friendly matches in June but is unlikely to have a new coach by then, given that the election for a new FIGC president won't take place until June 22.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso greets Federico Dimarco during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso directs his team during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)