Chelsea Women begin their Champions League campaign against Austria Wien on Wednesday night with Sonia Bompastor’s side expected to take control at Plough Lane.
The Austrian champions are newcomers to the league phase, but their route into the competition suggests Chelsea cannot simply treat this as a routine opening fixture.
Austria Wien have already played four Champions League matches this season and produced one of the standout results of qualifying to reach this stage for the first time.
Supporters can find the kick-off time and broadcast information in our Chelsea Women vs Austria Wien TV and live stream guide.
Who are Austria Wien Women?
Austria Wien are the reigning Austrian champions and are managed by Stefan Kenesei.
Their domestic success earned them a place in Champions League qualifying, where they began their European campaign during August.
Austria first defeated Hajduk Split 3-2 before producing a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Farul Constanța.
Those results sent them into the third and final qualifying round against Norwegian side Brann.
That tie provided a significantly tougher examination.
Brann won the first leg 2-1 in Norway, leaving Austria Wien needing to overturn a deficit at home.
They responded emphatically.
A 4-0 victory at the Franz-Horr-Stadion gave Austria a 5-2 aggregate success and secured their first appearance in the Champions League league phase.
Modesta Uka is Chelsea’s biggest threat
The standout player during that qualifying run was Modesta Uka.
The Kosovo international scored six goals across Austria Wien’s four qualifying matches.
Her most important performance came in the deciding leg against Brann.
Uka scored a hat-trick as Austria turned a one-goal aggregate deficit into a convincing 5-2 victory.
UEFA has subsequently identified the 27-year-old as one of the players to watch on Matchday One.
Our full analysis of Modesta Uka’s threat explains why Chelsea’s defence cannot afford to give the forward space around the penalty area.
She is not Austria’s only experienced player.
Captain Carina Wenninger brings considerable leadership at the back, while Austria internationals Virginia Kirchberger and Katharina Schiechtl add further experience to Kenesei’s defensive unit.
Austria Wien showed character against Brann
Austria’s victory over Brann is arguably the clearest warning for Chelsea.
They travelled home after losing the first leg 2-1 but did not approach the return fixture cautiously.
Austria attacked from the start.
Uka opened the scoring from the penalty spot before adding two further goals after half-time, while an own goal completed the 4-0 victory.
The official Austria Wien report described a side consistently looking to push forward rather than merely protecting the aggregate position.
That mentality could make Wednesday’s game more open than Chelsea might normally expect against a Champions League newcomer.
Chelsea must avoid giving Austria transition opportunities
Chelsea should dominate possession.
The greater challenge could be ensuring that possession does not leave them unnecessarily vulnerable when attacks break down.
Austria Wien possess enough pace and directness through Uka and Patricia Pfanner to threaten if Chelsea’s defensive distances become stretched.
Bompastor therefore has decisions to make over how aggressively she rotates after Saturday’s 2-0 WSL victory over Birmingham City.
Our Chelsea Women predicted XI against Austria Wien examines the changes that could be made for the European opener.
Lexi Potter’s increasing role also gives Bompastor another midfield option after the youngster was included in Chelsea’s registered Champions League squad.
Austria face a brutal league-phase schedule
Wednesday represents the beginning of an extremely difficult European schedule for Austria Wien.
After Chelsea, they face Inter, Juventus, Benfica, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
UEFA’s confirmed league-phase schedule demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing the Austrian champions.
Chelsea should still enter Wednesday night’s match as clear favourites.
They have considerably greater experience at this level and a squad built to challenge for the competition.
Austria Wien’s qualifying campaign, however, shows why complacency would be dangerous.
They have already overcome one difficult European setback this season and arrive at Plough Lane with a forward in Uka who has been one of the competition’s most prolific players so far.
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