Preview: Benfica Women vs. Rosengard - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts were swept aside by Barcelona on matchday one, while Rosengard were edged out in their home clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Match preview

After easing through three qualifying ties, Benfica were drawn in a group with Barcelona and Rosengard for the second straight season, while they have also been joined by German club Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Portuguese champions began the group stage with a difficult trip to Catalonia, where they fell to a heavy 5-0 defeat, following braces from Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati as well as an Asisat Oshoala effort.

After suffering their first loss of the season, Benfica quickly returned to winning ways with a 1-0 league victory over Braga thanks to Kika Nazareth's second-half strike.

Benfica will now turn their attention to an important Champions League encounter, with Filipa Patao's side expected to battle Rosengard and Frankfurt for second place in Group A.

The hosts, who are aiming to become the first Portuguese side to reach the quarter-finals, will certainly be confident about their chances of claiming all three points after winning all five of their competitive home games this season, scoring at least three goals in each of those matches, while also keeping four clean sheets.

Rosengard, meanwhile, are aware that this is set to be their last Champions League campaign until 2025-26 at the very least after they finished their league campaign in sixth position.

Their only possible route into next year's competition would be to claim the silverware this season - something that is very unlikely to happen for a club yet to pick up a point in seven group-stage games.

After finishing last season's European campaign without a point, Rosengard were hoping to begin the current group stage with a positive result in their home meeting with Frankfurt.

Unfortunately for the Swedish side, goals from Tanja Pawollek and Barbara Dunst gave Frankfurt a two-goal cushion, and while Olivia Schough netted a late consolation, it proved to be too little too late.

With their domestic season over, Rosengard have had a week to reflect on the defeat to Frankfurt and prepare for Wednesday's trip to Portugal, and they will be looking to continue their impressive away form after winning four and drawing two of their last six competitive away matches.

Benfica Women Women's Champions League form:

Benfica Women form (all competitions):

Rosengard Women's Champions League form:

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Rosengard form (all competitions):

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Team News

Benfica forward Nycole Raysla had to settle for a role off the bench in Barcelona, but the Brazilian may be brought into the lineup for Wednesday's contest.

Raysla could be joined in the forward line by two Portugal internationals in the form of Kika Nazareth and Jessica Silva.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Ana Seica will line up in central defence alongside Lais Araujo, while Catarina Amado and Lucia Alves will operate as the two full-backs.

As for the visitors, Cederstrom could decide to name an unchanged lineup despite seeing her side lose to Frankfurt last week.

Angel Mukasa will start in goal, and she will be shielded by a back four containing Ria Oling, Isabella Obaze, Gudrun Arnardottir and Jessica Wik.

Schough will be looking to find the net in a second straight game, and the 32-year-old will work alongside Sofie Bredgaard and Mai Kadowaki in a front three.

Benfica Women possible starting lineup:

Pauels; Amado, Seica, Lais, Alves; Alidou, Gasper, Faria; Silva, Raysla, Nazareth

Rosengard possible starting lineup:

Mukasa; Oling, Obaze, Arnardottir, Wik; Jansson, Knaak, Andersson; Bredgaard, Schough, Kadowaki

We say: Benfica Women 2-0 Rosengard

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