Arsenal host Juventus in the Women’s Champions League this evening hoping to move one step closer to securing a spot in the knockout rounds.
It is the fourth fixture of the group stages and Renée Slegers’s side sit second in Group C with six points. Those points come courtesy of big wins over Valarenga (4-1) and Juventus (4-0) meaning they would be all but guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds.
The Gunners also head into this game on the back of a superb north London derby win over Spurs in the WSL and Slegers will hope to keep that momentum going as she eyes silverware at the backend of the season.
There is some jeopardy for Arsenal however. Juventus are currently on three points and would join the Gunners on six should they triumph at the Emirates Stadium meaning Arsenal need to be defensively solid to avoid an upset.
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A defensive battle?
Arsenal have kept five clean sheets in their last six games against Italian teams while Juventus have kept six clean sheets in their seven previous away group games.
Whose defence will come out on top tonight?
Juve are strong on the road
Juventus have lost only one of their previous seven away group matches (four wins and two draws).
But, that loss was a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in 2022/23.
An unwanted record for Juve
Defeat for Juventus would mean successive Women’s Champions League losses for the first time since 2020/21. They slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal last time out.
Fortress Emirates
Arsenal have won all four home European games this season, scoring 15 goals and conceding only one.
Gunners in form
Arsenal have lost only two of their last nine Women’s Champions League matches with six wins and one draw in that run.
Alessia Russo sets Arsenal on course to derby win over Tottenham
Russo’s early finish – the Gunners’ second fastest goal in Women’s Super League history – was added to by Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius to continue interim boss Renee Slegers’ impressive short-term reign.
Gunners triumph in north London derby
Arsenal are fourth in the Women’s Super League, with 15 points from eight games after an emphatic north London derby win at the weekend.
Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius scored in the 3-0 triumph at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arsenal vs Juventus line-ups
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Little; Mariona, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina Panedas, Mead, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid
Juventus XI: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Bergamaschi, Schatzer, Bennison, Krumbiegel; Caruso; Cantore, Vangsgaard
Subs: Capelletti, Proulx, Kullberg, Lehmann, Rosucci, Girelli, Bonansea, Boattin, Bragonzi, Beccari, Thomas, Gallo
Slegers on how Juventus will approach the game
Renée Slegers, Arsenal’s interim coach, spoke about how she expects Juventus to approach tonight’s fixture. Speaking at a pre-match press conference she said: “We have three or four scenarios in our heads so we have to be prepared for all of them.
“From a coaching perspective, it’s fun because you have one performance and you play against the exact same opponent and the challenge you have in front of you is to try to do better.”
Canzi on lessons from previous defeat
The Juventus boss added: “Compared to last week, we’ll need to be more clinical when chances arise. We’ll have to stay in the game for as long as we can, despite Arsenal’s strength.
“We’ll have to have balance and pay attention defensively, then hope to take our chances when things open up.”