Matildas Abroad Preview: UWCL group stage continues

The UEFA Women's Champions League group stage continues tomorrow morning and there was a mixed bag of results for our Matildas Abroad in the opening games of the group stage.

The opening round of the UWCL last week saw Lyon collect a convincing 3-0 win away from home against Swedish side BK Häcken; while Chelsea narrowly avoided defeat to Wolfsburg with a 92nd-minute equaliser. Reigning UWCL champions FC Barcelona proved too strong for Arsenal, with the Gunners going down 4-1. 

All games will be streamed for free within Australia on streaming platform DAZN, shown live on their YouTube channel.

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Six Aussies are set to feature in the UWCL group stage, with Ellie Carpenter's Lyon the only side to collect a win in the opening group stage.  

Group A

Sam Kerr's Chelsea faced Wolfsburg in a difficult opening game of the UWCL group stage, with both sides settling for a point in the 3-3 draw. 

Kerr opened the scoring for the home side in their first group stage game, winning the UWCL goal of the week with her lob. 

Last season's runners up will take on Italian side Juventus at the stadium that is set to host the final in May 2022. Juventus were the only side in Group A to record a win last week, defeating Servette 3-0.

 

Juventus head coach Joe Montemurro has plenty of experience coaching against Chelsea, the Aussie having joined the club after spending four years with Chelsea's rivals Arsenal. 

Chelsea has never faced the side in UWCL before, however, their opposition comes into the fixture having won all five UWCL matches this season. 

The Italian side has kept four clean sheets in their five UWCL matches this season, with Chelsea's firepower of Kerr, Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder up front looking to break this streak. 

Juventus v Chelsea
Date: Thursday, October 14
Kick-off: 6:00 am AEDT

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Group C

Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley featured in Arsenal's tough opening group stage game against UWCL defending champions FC Barcelona, Catley played the entire game and Foord came on as a substitute.

The reigning champions ran away 4-1 winners, with Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger saving a penalty in the final minutes of the second half to keep Barcelona to four. 

Arsenal comes up against UWCL debutants Hoffenheim, who were clinical in their opening game beating fellow debutants HB Køge 5-0. 

Caitlin Foord is tackled by Sandra Panos of FC Barcelona (Source: GettyImages)
Caitlin Foord is tackled by Sandra Panos of FC Barcelona (Source: GettyImages)

Norwegian Frida Maanum scored the lone goal for Arsenal against Barcelona, getting on the end of a dangerous free-kick from Tobin Heath to draw one back for the visitors. 

The Gunners sit at the top of the table in the WSL and remain undefeated, and are looking to carry this momentum into the first home game of their group stage campaign. 

Arsenal vs Hoffenheim 
Date: Friday, October 15
Kick-off: 6:00 am AEDT

Group D

Two Aussies are set to feature in Group D action, with Ellie Carpenter's Lyon defeating Dylan Holmes' BK Häcken in the opening game of the UWCL group stage. 

Lyon started their UWCL group stage campaign with a 3-0 win over Häcken, with Carpenter's long throw-in leading to the opener from Melvine Malard, making history and becoming the first goalscorer in the new UWCL group stage. 

Carpenter's Lyon is the most successful side in UWCL history, winning the illustrious trophy seven times. They host Benfica, the first side from Portugal to reach the last 16. 

Benfica held last season's semi-finalists Bayern Munich to a surprising goalless draw in their opening match of the UWCL.  

Lyon celebrates their first goal of the night. (Source: UEFA.com)
Lyon celebrates their first goal of the night. (Source: UEFA.com)

Lyon goes into the encounter having won 13 of their last 14 home games in the competition, while Benfica has kept four clean sheets this season. 

American Catarina Macario is in fine form for the French side, having scored 6 goals in their last six UWCL games and will one to watch in their upcoming game. 

Lyon vs Benfica
Date: Friday, October 15
Kick-off: 6:00 am AEDT

Dylan Holmes' BK Häcken is looking to bounce back and get their first points of the UWCL group stage when they take on Bayern Munich. 

Häcken's opposition reached the last four of last season's UWCL, however, struggled to find the opener against Benfica on match day 1. Lea Schüller came the closest to scoring for Bayern, hitting the crossbar in the 85th minute.

Holmes made an appearance off the bench for Häcken at the hour mark. Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius looked dangerous in the box against Lyon and will be hoping to find the back of the net for her side. 

Dylan Holmes of BK Häcken and Daniëlle van de Donk fighting for the ball (Source: GettyImages)
Dylan Holmes of BK Häcken and Daniëlle van de Donk fighting for the ball (Source: GettyImages)

The two sides have faced one another before in the UWCL, with Häcken – then known as Göteborg – the last team to defeat Bayern in an UWCL match in Munich.

Häcken defeated the side from Germany 1-0  in the second leg of their round of 32 tie in 2019/20 season, however, Bayern progressed on away goals having won 2-1 in the first leg.

Both teams will be looking to collect their first win of the group stage in a tough battle for both sides.

Bayern vs BK Häcken
Date: Friday, October 15
Kick-off: 3:45 am AEDT