St. Pölten Suffers Heavy Champions League Defeat, Austria Vienna Eyes Comeback

The debut of SKN St. Pölten's women's football team in the new group stage of the UEFA Women's Champions League ended in a challenging 0-6 home defeat against Atletico Madrid. The Austrian champions faced considerable difficulties as the Spanish side asserted dominance throughout most of the match, exposing weaknesses in St. Pölten's defensive structure and highlighting the squad's recent personnel changes.

St. Pölten, a leading force in Austria's women's football, had previously shown signs of instability in the domestic league, including dropped points against Austria Vienna and Altach. Despite navigating past Denmark's Fortuna Hjörring with a convincing aggregate score in the Champions League qualifiers, the encounter with Atletico Madrid marked a significant step up in competition. Atletico, who finished third in Spain's league last season, quickly established control, mounting persistent attacks that St. Pölten struggled to contain.

Throughout the first half, the home side's defense, led by captain Jennifer Klein, was frequently overwhelmed by the pace and movement of Atletico's forwards, notably Gio Garbelini and Fiamma. The Austrian team found it difficult to disrupt their opponents' rhythm, leading to repeated scoring opportunities for the visitors. Defensive lapses allowed Atletico to capitalize, resulting in a series of goals that put the match out of reach before halftime.

After the break, Atletico lessened their intensity, providing St. Pölten with more opportunities to advance. However, the Austrian side was unable to shift the momentum in their favor, and two late goals from the Spanish team further widened the scoreline. Despite a more engaged second-half performance, St. Pölten was unable to alter the outcome or find the net.

This result leaves St. Pölten at the bottom of their Champions League group after the opening round, just behind Bayern Munich, who also suffered a heavy defeat in their first match. The upcoming fixture for St. Pölten will be an away game against Lyon, the record Champions League winners, presenting another substantial challenge for the Austrian squad.

In parallel European competition, Austria Vienna faced Slavia Prague in the second qualifying round of the Women's Europa Cup. Austria Vienna, currently atop the domestic league, was defeated 1-2 away in Prague. Slavia Prague controlled much of the game, taking an early lead and extending their advantage in the second half, despite being reduced to ten players following a red card. Austria Vienna's Courtney Strode managed to score a late goal, keeping hopes alive for the return leg in Vienna, where a place in the tournament's round of sixteen will be at stake.

Both Austrian teams now turn their attention to the next stages in their respective European campaigns. St. Pölten will seek to address defensive vulnerabilities before facing Lyon, while Austria Vienna aims to overturn their deficit and progress in the Women's Europa Cup.