Preview: Chelsea Women vs. Paris Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The Blues were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Madrid in their group opener, while the French side suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Hacken.

Match preview

Chelsea have been in exceptional form in their opening eight matches of the 2023-24 season, having recorded six victories and two draws.

Despite embarking on an impressive unbeaten run, the Blues would have been disappointed to leave Madrid with just a point following an away clash filled with drama.

The Blues took a two-goal lead thanks to efforts from Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr, but Chelsea were ultimately left frustrated after Olga Carmona equalised following the award of a controversial penalty before Charles had a late strike harshly ruled out for offside.

After having to settle for a draw last Wednesday, Chelsea returned to winning ways with a dominant 5-0 victory in Saturday's league clash against Liverpool, with Lauren James netting a hat-trick alongside goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nusken.

They will be confident about their chances of claiming another positive result on Thursday, having won four and drawn two of their six Champions League group matches.

Paris, meanwhile, experienced a remarkable run in qualifying to book their place in a group stage for the first time.

After cruising past Kryvbas, Paris held the nerve from the penalty spot to beat Arsenal in a shootout after the two sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in their one-legged tie.

The French side built upon that surprising result by claiming a stunning 5-3 aggregate victory over last season's runners-up Wolfsburg.

Following their incredible exploits in qualifying, Paris would have been disappointed to fall to a 2-1 defeat in their opening group game against Hacken, with Julie Dufour unable to spark a comeback after scoring a second-half spot-kick.

Despite falling to a narrow loss on matchday one, Sandrine Soubeyrand's side will travel to London off the back of a victory after beating Bordeaux 1-0 in Sunday's league fixture courtesy of Clara Mateo's first-half effort.

Chelsea Women Women's Champions League form:

D

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

W

Paris Women Women's Champions League form:

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Team News

The Women's Super League champions are still unable to call upon the injured trio of Melanie Leupolz, Guro Reiten and Catarina Macario.

After rotating her side at the weekend, Emma Hayes is set to recall Ann-Katrin Berger, Millie Bright, Ashley Lawrence, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Fran Kirby.

Having scored three goals in six competitive appearances this season, Sam Kerr will look to add to her tally when she leads the line on Thursday.

As for Paris, they will be without the services of Chelsea loanee Alsu Abdullina, who is ineligible to face her parent club.

Defenders Julie Soyer and Mathilde Bourdieu are expected to return to the side following the decision to rest them at the weekend.

There could also be recalls for the quartet of Lou Bogaert, Thea Greboval, Kaja Korosec and Dufour after the quartet dropped down to the bench against Bordeaux.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Lawrence, Bright, Carter, Charles; Cuthbert, Nusken, Rytting Kaneryd, Kirby, James; Kerr

Paris Women possible starting lineup:

Nnadozie; Bogaert, Hocine, Greboval, Soyer; Mateo, Corboz, Korosec; Thiney, Dufour; Bourdieu

We say: Chelsea Women 3-1 Paris Women

Paris may have already got the better of English opposition this season, but we think they may find it tough going against a Chelsea side that are enjoying a fine run of form.

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