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)

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.

Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.

Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.

Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.

Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.

Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.

Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.

In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.

Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)