Arsenal Women’s Champions League group stage campaign begins on Wednesday evening as they take on Frauen-Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in Germany.
A third-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season forced Arsenal to endure a fairly arduous qualifying process to put themselves in the hat for the group stage draw. The Gunners beat Rangers and Rosenborg in the first round of qualifying before eliminating Hacken, winning the second fixture 4-0 to overturn a first-leg deficit.
Jonas Eidevall’s team, however, have been placed into a tough Group C alongside Bayern, Juventus and Valerenga. They also head into Wednesday’s opener having picked up just a point against Everton in the WSL on Sunday.
Bayern, meanwhile, have five wins from five matches in the Frauen-Bundesliga as they aim to win their third league title on the bounce. They’re now the country’s dominant force following a period of Wolfsburg supremacy.
Their title triumph last season meant they were one of four teams to qualify for the WUCL group stages automatically.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the meeting in Munich.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal H2H Results (All Games)
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Bayern Munich team news
The hosts have several injury concerns heading into Wednesday’s game, although their likely absences have all been out for a while.
Star midfielder Lena Oberdorf suffered a long-term knee injury in the summer and will miss much of the 2024/25 campaign. Austrian defender Katharina Naschenweng is nursing a similar injury she sustained in June.
Franziska Kettis is unlikely to return from an ankle injury for Arsenal’s visit, but centre-back Glodis Viggosdottir should come back into the starting XI having served a one-game domestic suspension at the weekend.
Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs Arsenal
Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Grohs; Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Sembrant, Simon; Kerr, Stanway; Dallmann, Harder, Buhl; Schuller.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson has had her fair share of injury woes over the past 18 months but the defender returned from her latest setback during Sunday’s frustrating stalemate against Everton. Williamson is expected to start on Wednesday evening.
Victoria Pelova, Laura Wienroither, Amanda Ilestedt and Lina Hurtig all remain out for the away side, but Arsenal’s deep squad means Eidevall still has scope to rotate from Sunday’s XI.
Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord are experienced options off the bench, while Lia Walti and Stina Blackstenius could come into the starting lineup.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Codina, McCabe; Walti, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Maanum, Caldentey; Blackstenius.
There’s no doubt this is a tough assignment for Arsenal, who have appeared goal-shy in recent outings. Something’s not quite right with Eidevall’s team, who are facing up against a confidence-laden Bayern outfit.
Bayern are seven from seven in all competitions this term, with their notable injury woes yet to hinder them. Eidevall and Arsenal may arrive in Munich with the sole intent of frustrating their hosts, attempting to claim a mere point, but Bayern’s pressure will eventually tell.
