Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Arsenal Women and Valerenga Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
On Wednesday, Arsenal Women will welcome Valerenga Women to the Emirates Stadium for their second match of the Women’s Champions League group stage.
Arsenal fell to a heavy defeat in their group opener against Bayern Munich, while Valerenga were edged out by Italian giants Juventus.
Match preview
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Pressure is seemingly growing on Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall following an underwhelming start to the 2024-25 season.
Eidevall has seen his side struggle to find their best form, with Arsenal’s first nine competitive games producing four wins, two draws and three defeats.
The Gunners are competing in the Women’s Champions League group stage after overturning a first-leg deficit in their second-round qualifying tie against Hacken.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, they kicked off the main draw with a demoralising 5-2 away defeat against German champions Bayern Munich.
The Gunners fell to another loss in Saturday’s crucial league clash against Chelsea, with Caitlin Foord‘s strike proving fruitless in a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Having now gone three competitive matches without a win, Arsenal will be desperate to produce a response in their second meeting with Norwegian opposition this season after previously getting better of Rosenborg in qualifying.
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Valerenga are the second Norwegian team to feature in the Women’s Champions League group stage after successfully negotiating their way through qualifying.
They ousted Farul Constanta in the first round of qualifying, before claiming a 5-1 aggregate win over Anderlecht to seal their place in the main draw.
Unfortunately for Valerenga, their first-ever group match ended in disappointment as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in last week’s home meeting with Italian giants Juventus.
Valerenga bounced back to record a 3-0 win in Saturday’s home game against Lyn, leaving them nine points clear at the top of the Toppserien with just four matches left to play.
Nils Lexerod’s side have now won 12 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, but they will have their work cut out to take maximum points in a tricky game against Arsenal.
Arsenal Women Women’s Champions League form:
Arsenal Women form (all competitions):
Valerenga Women Women’s Champions League form:
Valerenga Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts are unable to call upon Laura Wienroither, Amanda Ilestedt, Victoria Pelova and Lina Hurtig.
Spain international Laia Codina could return to the Arsenal backline after dropping down to the bench at the weekend.
Eidevall could also be tempted to start Kyra Cooney-Cross and Frida Maanum in a bid to freshen up his side amid a busy schedule.
As for the visitors, they remain without the services of long-term absentee Mimmi Lofwenius, who is working her way back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins and defender Selma Pettersen are also set to miss out due to their respective injury issues.
Thea Bjelde will have to be assessed after she was forced off in the 25th minute of Saturday’s league victory over Lyn.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Codina, McCabe; Walti, Cooney-Cross, Caldentey, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Valerenga Women possible starting lineup:
Enblom; Horte, Thorsnes, Olsen; Thomsen, Brekken, Vickus, Heidarsdottir; Godo, Tvedten, Saevik
We say: Arsenal Women 3-1 Valerenga Women
Arsenal may be short of confidence after failing to win any of their last three matches in all competitions, but they will still be favourites to get the better of Valerenga, and we think they will live up to that tag by claiming a relatively comfortable victory on Wednesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.