Bayern Munichvs.Arsenal

The Gunners are set to battle Bayern, Juventus and Valerenga over the next six matchdays for a top-two spot in Group C.

Match preview

Bayern are one of four teams that secured automatic qualification to the group stage as a result of their success in the Frauen-Bundesliga last season.

They won 19 and drew three of their 22 league matches to win back-to-back league titles and seal their place in the Women's Champions League main draw.

Alexander Straus' side are hoping for better fortunes in their upcoming European campaign after failing to make it out of the group phase last season.

The German champions will carry momentum into their opening game against Arsenal, having won all seven of their competitive matches this season, including a narrow 1-0 victory in Saturday's clash against FC Koln which came courtesy of Klara Buhl's 71st-minute strike.

Bayern will hope to continue their fine form in their first meeting with the Gunners since giving up a first-leg lead to lose 2-1 in the 2022-23 Women's Champions League quarter-finals.

In contrast to their hosts, Arsenal were forced to begin their European campaign in the qualifying rounds after they had to settle for a third-place finish in the Women's Super League last season.

Arsenal beat Rangers and Rosenborg in the first stage of qualifying before they overturned a first-leg deficit to record a 4-1 aggregate victory over Hacken in the second round.

While they will be pleased to be in the group stage, Arsenal may be frustrated by the fact they have won just one of their opening three Women's Super League matches (D2).

After drawing against Manchester City and beating Leicester City, the Gunners were held to a goalless draw in Sunday's home clash with Everton.

Jonas Eidevall's side can at least take comfort from the fact they have recorded clean sheets in each of their last three competitive outings.

Arsenal have their work cut out to claim all three points on Wednesday, having won just one of their previous five European away trips.

Bayern Munich Women form (all competitions):

D

W

D

L

D

D

Arsenal Women Women's Champions League form:

W

W

L

W

Arsenal Women form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

D

Team News

Bayern are unable to call upon defender Katharina Naschenweng and midfielder Lena Oberdorf due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Franziska Kett is unlikely to be involved in Wednesday's fixture, having been forced to miss Bayern's last five matches with an ankle problem.

Centre-back Glodis Viggosdottir will return to the starting lineup after missing the win over Koln through suspension.

As for the Gunners, they remain without the services of Victoria Pelova, Laura Wienroither, Amanda Ilestedt and Lina Hurtig.

Captain Leah Williamson is in contention to start after she returned from injury to feature as a substitute against Everton.

Eidevall may also be tempted to bring Lia Walti and Stina Blackstenius into the side for Wednesday's trip to Germany.

Bayern Munich Women possible starting lineup:

Grohs; Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Sembrant, Simon; Kerr, Stanway; Dallmann, Harder, Buhl; Schuller

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Codina, McCabe; Walti, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Maanum, Caldentey; Blackstenius

We say: Bayern Munich Women 2-1 Arsenal Women

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