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Preview: Arsenal Women vs. Zurich Women - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 25 October 2022, 20:34
Arsenal Women will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they welcome Zurich Women to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.

While the Gunners began the Women's Champions League group stage with a superb 5-1 win over Lyon, the Swiss side were beaten 2-0 by Juventus.

Match preview

Including last season, the Gunners are unbeaten in their previous 11 competitive games, while their seven matches this term have resulted in six wins and one draw.

Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Ajax to progress to the group stage where they have been drawn alongside Lyon, Juventus and Zurich.

The Gunners began the group stage with an away game against the reigning European Champions Lyon, but rather than struggling against the French side, they cruised to a statement victory.

Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead both netted a brace, while Frida Maanum also found the net to secure a memorable 5-1 away win.

A 2-0 victory followed at the weekend when they faced Liverpool, and they will now have the chance to record a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Zurich are searching for their first point of the group stage after losing 2-0 at home to Juventus last week.

After beating KI and Apollon Limassol, the Swiss champions cruised to a commanding 10-0 aggregate victory over SFK 2000 to progress from qualifying.

However, as Zurich found out against Juventus, the group stages will offer a far tougher challenge, and they will need to be at their very best to compete with the likes of Arsenal.

Inka Grings's side bounced back from their defeat in their group opener to thrash Baar 10-0 at the weekend to secure their place in the third round of the Swiss Cup.

Zurich may have six of their last seven games, but may find it difficult to clinch a positive result against an Arsenal side who have won their last five matches by a combined 13-1 scoreline.

Arsenal Women Women's Champions League form:

D

W

W

Arsenal Women form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

Zurich Women Women's Champions League form:

Zurich Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Arsenal are still expected to be without the services of Leah Williamson and Rafaelle, who have both missed the last three matches through injury.

Vivianne Miedema may have to settle for a place on the bench for a third consecutive game, with Jonas Eidevall set to name an unchanged lineup.

Lia Walti and Maanum both scored in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Liverpool at the weekend, and the pair will feature in midfield alongside Kim Little.

As for the visitors, they could name a similar lineup to the one that started the 2-0 defeat to Juventus last week.

After featuring as a second half substitute against the Italian side, Irina Pando could be brought into the starting XI for Thursday's contest.

Fabienne Humm has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, and she will look to add to her tally when she leads the line against Arsenal.

Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:

Zinsberger; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Walti, Maanum; Mead, Foord, Blackstenius

Zurich Women possible starting lineup:

Romero; Riesen, Stierli, Vetterlein, Rey; Piubel, Markou, Bernauer; Megroz, Pando, Humm

We say: Arsenal Women 3-0 Zurich Women

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