By 90min | Created at 2024-11-12 20:56:57 | Updated at 2024-11-18 04:16:34
5 days ago
The group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League continues this week with matchday three.
Matchday two brought all of the action, as Arsenal bounced-back from recent woes in a4-1 victory over Valerenga, whilst Manchester City completed a comeback to scrape a win over St. Polten. Chelsea extended their dominance, registering a 3-1 victory over FC Twente on the road in the Netherlands.
The sixteen teams will return this week, for another exciting round of fixtures on the European stage.
90min takes a look at all of the matchday three matches and predicts who may come out victorious.
Women's Champions League - matchday 3 predictions
Arsenal sit second in their group stage / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages
Juventus and Arsenal have commenced their European campaign in turbulent fashion, both winning against Valerenga, but falling to defeat Bayern Munich.
The Italian side currently occupy top-spot on the Serie A Femminile table, and will be eager to bring that form into the Champions League. A victory will mean they steal the second spot away from the Gunners in their group.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners have all but said farewell to their Women’s Super League (WSL) title hopes, and will be eager to get another win under their belt after beating Brighton 5-0 last week.
The tie could very well end in a draw, however a hungry Arsenal may just get the edge over the Italian side on the road.
Prediction: Juventus 1-2 Arsenal
Barcelona vs St. Polten
Aitana Bonmati is the latest Ballon d'Or Feminin winner / David Ramos/GettyImages
If the first run of fixtures are anything to go by, the back-to-back Champions League holders should be sure favourites in this tie.
After thrashing Hammarby 9-0 on matchday two (a side that beat St. Polten 2-0), Barcelona will be looking all the more dangerous this week.
Although, it is tough to completely rule out St. Polten after the Austrian side tested Man City all the way to the end in a narrow 3-2 defeat on matchday two.
Prediction: Barcelona 5-0 St. Polten
Man City are unbeaten across all competitions / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Man City still remain undefeated across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, including consecutive Champions League victories on the first two matchdays of the group stage.
A statement win saw City steal victory from defending champions Barcelona at Joie Stadium, before a comeback fight resulted in a 3-2 victory against St. Polten. It is hard to write this City side off going forward as they continue their European fight.
Despite a positive performance from Hammarby against St. Polten on matchday one, a 9-0 thumping at the hands of Barcelona alludes to the odds lying in Man City’s favour in this showdown.
Prediction: Man City 4-1 Hammarby
Bayern Munich vs Valerenga
Bayern Munch have won both their opening fixtures / Daniela Porcelli/GettyImages
Bayern Munich have started their Champions League journey as they mean to go on, with emphatic victories over Arsenal and Juventus in their opening two fixtures. Alexander Straus’ side will now host a winless Valerenga side at FC Bayern Munich Campus in an opportunity to further solidify their push for top-spot.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Juventus on matchday one of the group stage led to some hopeful signs for group underdogs Valerenga, but a 4-1 loss to Arsenal made their Champions League future look bleak.
The Norwegian side will now come up against their biggest test yet, and it will be a mountain of a task if they want to take points off of the German giants.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-0 Valerenga
Galatasaray are yet to win a game / Anadolu/GettyImages
Both winless in their opening two fixtures, Galatasaray and Wolfsburg will each be incredibly hungry to get three points on the board.
A disappointing Wolfsburg side seem to be coming to the end of their European reign, losing to both Roma and Lyon on the opening two matchdays. Although much needs to be said about the quality of their group, with the two aforementioned sides being very formidable opponents.
Galatasaray will be glad to return home to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium for the fixture, hoping their fans can swing the momentum in their favour during the must-win clash.
It is hard to predict the result of the close tie, however Wolfsburg should have enough quality in their ranks to overcome the Turkish side.
Prediction: Galatasaray 1-3 Wolfsburg
Real Madrid vs FC Twente
Real Madrid and FC Twente both have the same number of points / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Currently equal for points in their group tally, both Real Madrid and FC Twente trail table-toppers Chelsea by three points. All that separates the two sides is a three-goal swing in Real Madrid’s favour, after a 4-0 thrashing over Celtic restored their goal difference to a positive number.
FC Twente put on a solid display against Chelsea despite defeat, looking the more promising of the two sides in the second half of proceedings. The Dutch side will be certain to cause havoc in their group, with an impressive squad that may just fly under the radar.
The fixture will definitely be an exciting one as the two sides prepare to meet at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-2 FC Twente
Lyon reached last year's Champions League final / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
It is a trip to Italy for last year’s Champions League finalists Lyon, as the French giants gear up for their biggest test of the 2024/25 group stage.
Both undefeated in their opening two group stage fixtures, Roma and Lyon will face off in an exciting match at the Stadio Tre Fontane.
Roma currently occupy the top-spot in their group, but just one goal separates the two sides in the standings. The Italian side will be eager to capitalise on their home-side advantage heading into a daunting double-header with Lyon.
Despite the fact that Roma’s talent is not to be underestimated, it seems likely that Lyon have enough quality and experience to prevail on the occasion.
Prediction: Roma 0-1 Lyon
Celtic vs Chelsea
Chelsea are yet to drop a point since recruiting new head coach Sonia Bompastor / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
Chelsea will make the short trip to Scotland for their third group stage fixture of the Champions League, as the Blues gear up to face Celtic in Glasgow.
Tournament newcomers Celtic have not had the warmest of welcomes to the Champions League, conceding six goals across two defeats in their first two fixtures. The test only gets more challenging for Elena Sadiku’s side, as they now prepare to host WSL giants Chelsea at Celtic Park.
Chelsea are yet to drop a point across all competitions since the appointment of new manager Sonia Bompastor, and that form is predicted to continue on Wednesday night. Despite being without some key personnel in the frontline, Chelsea have enough attacking options to wreak havoc once again.
