The group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Girls’s Champions League continues this week with matchday two.
It was a busy first spherical of motion a number of days in the past as Bayern Munich crushed Arsenal 5-2, Manchester Metropolis recorded a shock 2-0 win over present holders Barcelona, and Chelsea scraped previous Actual Madrid 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
16 groups are battling it out within the group stage in hope of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Among the many favourites for this yr’s prize are reigning champions Barcelona, eight-time winners Lyon, and WSL title holders Chelsea.
90min has taken a take a look at the matchday two fixtures and predicted who will come out on prime.
Bayern laid down a marker final day out with a 5-2 conquer Arsenal. Nonetheless, this week’s Italian hosts needed to beat Paris Saint-Germain in qualifying to succeed in the group stage of the competitors, and so they did so with an emphatic 5-2 mixture win.
It’s for that cause Juventus can’t be neglected for this yr’s competitors. Their victory over Valerenga on matchday one was much more modest, nevertheless it was a win nonetheless.
That is in all probability one of many more durable ties to name, which is why it may finish in a attract Italy.
Prediction: Juventus 2-2 Bayern Munich
Manchester Metropolis stunned the ladies’s soccer world final week after they beat Barcelona 2-0 on the Joie Stadium. Whereas the present European champions aren’t unstoppable, it was a fierce take a look at for Gareth Taylor’s aspect on their return to the competitors.
St Polten, then again, are by far the strongest workforce in Austria, however had been overwhelmed 2-0 by Hammarby final day out. It is robust to see something aside from a Metropolis win given the wealthy vein of type they’re at present in.
Prediction: St Polten 0-3 Manchester Metropolis
All eyes can be on the Emirates this week because the go to of Norwegian aspect Valerenga would be the Gunners’ first sport with out supervisor Jonas Eidevall, who introduced his resignation on Tuesday. With all that is occurring behind the scenes, that is not at all a simple match for Arsenal.
The guests had been solely narrowly overwhelmed 1-0 by Juventus final day out, so they are going to be a stern defence to interrupt down. Given Arsenal struggled to attain towards Everton within the WSL a matter of weeks in the past, it is going to be fascinating to see how the supervisor’s departure impacts their attacking play.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Valerenga
After final week’s defeat in Manchester, Barcelona can be determined to bounce again and put some factors on the board. A house fixture will definitely assist, though Hammarby received off to a profitable begin themselves.
With all of the expertise Barcelona boast of their ranks, they need to have sufficient to beat the Swedish aspect. Hammarby are at present third within the Damallsvenskan desk behind Rosengard and BK Hacken with a couple of video games left to play of the home season.
Prediction: Barcelona 5-0 Hammarby
Celtic’s group stage opponents could not get tougher with Chelsea and Actual Madrid amongst them. The Scottish aspect did not get off to one of the best begin final week as they had been defeated 2-0 by FC Twente, so it is going to take a monumental effort in the event that they’re to grab any factors from Madrid now.
Whereas the match towards Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the end resulted in defeat for the Liga F aspect, they nonetheless made life tough for Sonia Bompastor’s aspect, and it was not at all a simple win for the hosts. Madrid will hope to hold that type into this week’s sport towards Celtic.
Prediction: Actual Madrid 3-0 Celtic
Galatasaray had been based solely three years in the past, and this season is their first try in Europe’s premier competitors. They progressed all through the qualifying rounds, and beat Slavia Prague 4-3 on mixture to succeed in the group stage.
Their opening match towards Lyon final week resulted in a 3-0 loss, nevertheless it wasn’t the heavy scoreline some could have feared. Roma, then again, produced a shock 1-0 win over Wolfsburg of their first group sport, so they are going to be stuffed with confidence heading into Thursday’s sport.
Prediction: 2-4 Roma
It is a journey to the Netherlands for Chelsea as they gear up for his or her second group stage fixture on Thursday night. Bompastor’s aspect edged previous Actual Madrid final day out, so one other victory can be essential right here in the event that they’re to remain on monitor to succeed in the knockout levels.
After a taxing WSL sport towards Arsenal over the weekend, the Chelsea boss could take a look at rotating with a London derby towards Tottenham on the horizon. The primary worldwide break of the marketing campaign additionally looms massive, so workforce choice may very well be key right here.
Nonetheless, Twente aren’t a workforce to be taken evenly, and after their opening day conquer Celtic, they are going to again themselves on residence soil.
Prediction: FC Twente 1-4 Chelsea
A battle of the titans will happen in Germany on Thursday evening. Each Wolfsburg and Lyon boast a wealthy historical past on this competitors, and have contested 4 previous finals towards one another.
Lyon opened this season’s account with a victory, whereas Wolfsburg struggled towards Roma. They are going to actually must bounce again strongly in the event that they’re to have any hope of beating their rivals.