The UEFA Women’s Champions League group phase comes to an end with our game away to OH Leuven at 8pm (UK time) on Wednesday.
We’re currently eighth in the league, five points clear of Valerenga in 13th, meaning our place in the play-offs for the quarter-finals is guaranteed.
A win this week could see us climb into the top four (automatically advancing to the quarters) and finish on 12 points, but we’ll need Bayern Munich and Real Madrid both fail to win matches against Valerenga and FC Twente respectively.
CRUNCH TIME
Leuven are 12th in the Champions League ahead of this match, meaning they’re just about in a position to reach the play-offs for the knockout phase but, with Valerenga in 13th just two points behind them, there’s still all to play for. If Bayern beat Valerenga, Leuven will progress regardless of their result against us.
They’re flying high in the Belgian Super League, top of the tree with 25 points from 10 matches, having won eight, drawn one and lost one.
Last Saturday saw them record a crucial 3-1 win away to second-placed Anderlecht, a win that saw Leuven overtake their title rivals. In Europe, they’ve drawn with Paris FC, Roma and PSG and been beaten by FC Twente and Barcelona.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Slegers: “It's an important one for us. It's the last one in the Champions League and we go for the three points. It's not within our hands [to finish in the top four], but we will try to chase those top four positions. But Leuven will also go for something, so it's going to be an interesting game.
"All games will be played at the same time, so scenarios can change in an instant. But of course, we're happy with the last three games and look forward to tomorrow.” - read every word of Renée’s pre-Leuven press conference.
Read more Every word of Renée’s pre-Leuven press conference
Arno van den Abbeel: "Arsenal plays with a lot of intensity, power, and strength. We're prepared for that. After the analysis, we'll see what we can bring ourselves and neutralise their strengths. As in every match, there will be chances.
"Everyone has grown through this European story. We've gained a lot of confidence and maturity. I saw that on Saturday against Anderlecht. We had little stress or panic. We've matured a lot."
FACTS AND STATS
This will be the first meeting between Belgian and English sides in the Women’s Champions League.
We have scored at least once in each of our 11 away games in the group stage/league phase in the Champions League (3.2 goals per game on average), recording a win (2-0 vs Benfica) and a defeat (2-3 vs Bayern) on the road this season.
Renée Slegers has taken charge of 21 games in the Champions League (6 with Rosengård, 15 with us) and has never seen her side draw (W11 L10), the most matches a manager has taken charge of in the competition without ever seeing a stalemate.
Beth Mead has either scored (2) or assisted (3) in five of her last six appearances in the Champions League, including a winner in our 1-0 win over Twente last week.
Leuven’s Lowiese Seynhaeve has prevented 5.8 goals with her saves in the Champions League this season (6 goals conceded – excl. own goals, 11.8 xGoT), the highest rate of any goalkeeper in the competition this term.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Lithuanian referee Rasa Grigonė has been appointed to take charge of Wednesday’s match.
She has seen over three UEFA Women’s Europa Cup matches this season and one match in the qualifying rounds for the Champions League.
Referee: Rasa GrigonėAssistant Referees: Irina Pozdejeva and Tilde LarssonFourth Official: Tess OlofssonVAR: Tamás BognárAssistant VAR: Katalin Kulcsár
HOW TO WATCH
This match will be shown live on Disney + in the UK. For supporters elsewhere, take a look at which broadcasters are showing the action all around the world.
Read more How to watch OH Leuven v Arsenal Women on TV
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