Juventusvs.Valerenga

The two sides are unable to finish in the top two in Group C, with Juventus sitting in third place and two points above Valerenga in fourth position.

Match preview

Juventus will have to wait at least one more season to make their first UWCL quarter-final appearance since 2021-22 after falling short in their bid to claim a top-two spot in the 2024-25 competition.

They started the main draw on a positive note, with Sofia Cantore scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 away win over Valerenga in October.

Unfortunately for Juventus, Cantore's strike remains their only goal of the group stage, having gone on to lose four consecutive UWCL games by an aggregate 11-0 scoreline.

A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on matchday four condemned them to a group-stage exit, before they slumped to a heavy 4-0 loss in last week's away game against German champions Bayern Munich.

While they cannot reach the quarter-finals, Juventus will still be keen to sign off their European campaign by claiming their first home victory of this season's group stage.

After negotiating their way through qualifying, Valerenga have found it difficult to adapt to life in their first experience of the UWCL group stage.

The Norwegian champions fell short in their opening group game against Juventus, before they suffered heavy away defeats against Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Undoubtedly, Valerenga's highlight of the group phase was their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich on matchday four, with Elise Thorsnes netting a 88th-minute equaliser to clinch a point for her side.

Unfortunately for Valerenga, they were unable to take anything from last week's home game against Arsenal, falling to a 3-1 defeat against the in-form Women's Super League side.

Having taken just one point from five matches, Valerenga are languishing at the bottom of Group C ahead of matchday six, but they still have the opportunity to improve on their current position, knowing that a win on Wednesday will see them leapfrog Juventus into third position.

Juventus Women Women's Champions League form:

W

W

L

L

L

L

Juventus Women form (all competitions):

Valerenga Women Women's Champions League form:

W

L

L

L

D

L

Valerenga Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Juventus are unable to call upon defender Estelle Cascarino, who sustained an anterior cruciate injury in France's 4-2 defeat to Spain last month.

Barbara Bonansea could return to the side after coming off the bench to score in the 3-0 league victory over Fiorentina.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Canzi could also recall Arianna Caruso after the midfielder dropped down to the bench for Sunday's outing in Serie A Femminile.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the services of Tuva Espas, Thea Bjelde, Selma Pettersen and Stine Brekken.

Tilde Lindwall could be rewarded with a starting opportunity after she came off the bench to score a late consolation against Arsenal.

Karina Saevik is set to lead the line for the visitors, with the striker looking to open her account in the main draw after scoring three goals in qualifying.

Juventus Women possible starting lineup:

Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Kullberg, Boattin; Thomas, Caruso, Schatzer, Krumbiegel; Vangsgaard; Cantore, Bonansea

Valerenga Women possible starting lineup:

Enblom; Horta, Kovacs, Olsen; Thomsen, Vickius, Tennebo, Lindwall; Godo, Tvedten; Saevik

We say: Juventus Women 3-1 Valerenga Women

While both teams have been eliminated, they will still be determined to end their respective European campaigns with a positive result.

Juventus got the better of Valerenga on matchday one, and as they have home advantage in their favour, we think the Italian side will claim a relatively comfortable victory to keep hold of third spot.

Written by

Ben Sully

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