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

The hosts, meanwhile, have already been eliminated from the competition after losing all four group games, but they will still be determined to claim their first point.

Match preview

Vllaznia would have been pleased to come through qualifying and book their place in the group stage, but they have found it tough to compete in the main draw.

After losing 2-0 to Real Madrid on matchday one, the Albanian champions were thrashed 8-0 in their away meeting with Chelsea.

They shipped five without scoring in their away game against Paris Saint-Germain before the Parisians cruised to a 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture last week.

While Vllaznia are rooted to the bottom of the group and unable to qualify for the knockout rounds, they will be looking to avoid exiting the competition without scoring a goal or picking up a point.

Although they will be determined to find the net, Vllaznia will need to be more resilient in defence after shipping 19 goals in four games, leaving them with the worst defensive record in the competition.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout rounds after enjoying a successful European campaign up until this point.

They began the competition with three consecutive victories, before they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid last week.

With 10 points to their name, the Blues sit top of their group, and they only need to avoid defeat on Thursday to book their place in the quarter-finals.

In their most recent outing, Chelsea claimed a ninth consecutive Women's Super League victory after a Fran Kirby strike and a Jelena Cankovic brace gave the Blues a three-goal lead against Reading, and although the Royals scored two quick goals in the 60th and 61st minute, the English champions held firm to record a 3-2 win.

As a result, Emma Hayes's side are now unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, and they will be confident of extending that run on Friday.

Vllaznia Women Women's Champions League form:

Vllaznia Women (all competitions) form:

Chelsea Women Women's Champions League form:

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Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

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Team News

Matilda Gjergi is expected to feature in the centre of the Vllaznia defence alongside Sara Maliqi, and the pair will have their work cut out against an in-form Chelsea side.

After coming off the bench at half time against PSG last week, Maria Baska could be presented with a place in the starting lineup.

Jehona Shala is set to be given the lonely task of leading the line, and she will be aiming to score Vllaznia's first goal in the group stage.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the services of Pernille Harder, while Melanie Leupolz is currently on maternity leave.

Hayes rotated her squad for Sunday's victory over Reading, and she is expected to make a number of changes to her side, with the likes of Jessica Carter, Kadiesha Buchanan and Jessie Fleming set to return to the starting lineup.

Lauren James, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr all dropped to the bench at the weekend, but they are set to feature in the front three on Thursday.

Vllaznia Women possible starting lineup:

Williams-Mosier; Popovic, Gjergji, Maliqi, Gjini; Ramadani, Berisha, Franja, Baska, Doci; Shala

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Carter, Buchanan, Bright, Charles; Cuthbert, Ingle, Fleming; James, Reiten, Kerr

We say: Vllaznia Women 0-5 Chelsea Women

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