Arsenal and Chelsea are each concerned because the Women’s Champions League resumes this week with the quarter-final first legs.
Arsenal tackle Bayern Munich on the Allianz Arena on Tuesday and Chelsea play Lyon at Groupama Stadium 24 hours later, with the opposite ties seeing Roma meet Barcelona and Paris St Germain deal with Wolfsburg.
Here, the PA information company takes a have a look at a few of the speaking factors forward of the motion.
Injury-hit Arsenal intention to finish last-four absence
Arsenal, the one English membership to have received the competitors, again in 2007, want to attain the semis for the primary time in 10 years, dealing with German opposition at this stage once more after being eradicated within the 2021-22 quarter-finals by Wolfsburg. Jonas Eidevall’s facet made a really eye-catching begin of their group this time period, successful 5-1 at eight-time and defending champions Lyon, and would end prime of the pool – however by the ultimate spherical of video games had suffered the numerous blow of shedding forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to ACL accidents. The membership re-signed veteran striker Jodie Taylor final week however she shouldn’t be a part of their Champions League squad. Currently fourth within the Women’s Super League, they’ve received every of the final three video games, together with beating Chelsea 3-1 within the League Cup remaining.
Familiar foe at Bayern
The Gunners go up in opposition to a Bayern outfit that includes England midfielder Georgia Stanway. After leaving Manchester City to affix the Bundesliga membership final summer season, the 24-year-old scored three targets of their group-stage video games, two in a late brace that secured a 3-2 victory at Benfica. Bayern, who completed second behind Barcelona in Group D however on the identical quantity of factors (15), have twice earlier than reached the Champions League semi-finals, in 2019 and 2021; final season they bowed out within the quarters with defeat over two legs to PSG. They are second within the German prime flight in the mean time, two factors behind Wolfsburg, and on a 12-match successful streak in all competitions.
Kerr on tune for Blues
While Chelsea had been defeated within the League Cup remaining, that was solely their second lack of 2022-23 and first since September – in any other case, it has been fairly ruthless type from Emma Hayes’ facet, who look well-placed to safe a fourth successive WSL title. Australia ahead Sam Kerr has once more been on the forefront, scoring 22 targets for the Blues together with 12 for the reason that flip of the 12 months. Among these earlier within the marketing campaign had been 5 within the group stage of this competitors. Hayes’ facet topped their pool a 12 months on from failing to make it to the final eight. The season earlier than that, they’d reached the ultimate, shedding 4-0 to Barcelona.
Lyon’s ranks strengthening
After being thrashed by Arsenal, Lyon’s restoration en path to taking second place in Group C included beating the Gunners 1-0 on the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, their defence of the French league title at present sees them a degree away from PSG on the prime. They have had numerous massive names again in motion in current months after accidents, and Norway star Ada Hegerberg, who scored one purpose and arrange one other within the 3-1 win over Barcelona in final season’s remaining, is at present nearing a return of her personal.
The street to Eindhoven
The second legs of those ties happen on the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge subsequent Wednesday and Thursday respectively. If the English sides progress, Arsenal will then face both PSG or Wolfsburg within the semis in late April, whereas for Chelsea will probably be Barca or Roma that may be vying for a spot within the remaining that’s scheduled for June 3 at PSV Eindhoven’s Philips Stadion.