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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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.”
Juventus coah on tonight’s match
Juventus coach, Massimiliano Canzi, said: “It’s a game with a lot of meaning for us, not least that we want to show we are not who we showed ourselves to be a week ago.
“We know the importance of this game, we know our ability, and we know how to hurt our opponents.”
The last meeting between the sides
Arsenal came out on top in last week’s reverse fixture, winning 4-0 at Juventus to move into second place in Group C on six points from three matches.
Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum were all on the scoresheet.
Chelsea ease into Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with win over Celtic
The Blues kicked off knowing just a point would secure a top-two finish in Group B and guarantee their passage to the knockout phase, after FC Twente lost to Real Madrid in the early match.
And Sonia Bompastor’s side maintained their 100 per cent record in all competitions this season, making it 11 wins out of 11 through goals from Lucy Bronze, Wieke Kaptein and a late Eve Perisset penalty.
Arsenal vs Juventus prediction
Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture and it should be equally as straightforward this time, as the Gunners continue their mini-resurgence under Renée Slegers.
Arsenal 4-0 Juventus.
Predicted line-ups
Arsenal XI: van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Little; Foord, Maanum, Caldentey; Russo.
Juventus XI: Peyraud Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Bergamaschi, Caruso, Schatzer, Boattin; Cantore, Vangsgaard, Beccari.
What is the early Arsenal team news?
Renée Slegers has not confirmed any new injury worries for Arsenal after their win over Spurs, so the Gunners could go with a full-strength side in midweek, as they did when they won 4-0 in Italy.
Slegers singled out Alessia Russo, Mariona Caldentey, Kim Little and Leah Williamson for praise after the Spurs match, with all four in line to start in a game that is a must-win if the Gunners are to prevent Juventus leapfrogging them in the group.
Katie McCabe and Emily Fox will likely keep their places at full-back, with Kim Little and Lia Wälti anchoring the midfield.
In the forward positions, Caldentey may keep her place on the left after impressing at the weekend, while Caitlin Foord started on the right last week, and Frida Maanum played behind Russo.
Nevertheless, Beth Mead was preferred on the right against Juventus last time out, with Stina Blackstenius another option in attack.
Where can I watch the match?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on DAZN, and subscribers can also stream the action online via the DAZN website.
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