Arsenal Women can take a big stride towards the knockout phases of the Women's Champions League with victory over HB Koge Kvindeelite Women on Wednesday in gameweek four of Group C.
While it is already likely that Koge's European campaign will come to an end at the conclusion of the group stages, defeat for the Danish outfit will mathematically confirm their exit from the competition.
Match preview
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Arsenal will want to finish top of Group C but in order to do so, it is probable that the Gunners will need to win their remaining three Champions League group stage games to leapfrog currently unbeaten Barcelona.
Last time out, Jonas Eidevall's side made the short trip across North London to face rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Women's Super League, and the visitors dropped their first two points of the domestic campaign.
After a dominant first-half display from Arsenal, the two teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0, but Rachel Williams delivered the Spurs surprise as she put the hosts 1-0 ahead in the 65th minute.
Arsenal applied more pressure on Tinja-Riikka Korpela's goal from there on in but had to wait until stoppage time for Vivianne Miedema to rescue a point for the league leaders.
Heading into Wednesday's outing, Eidevall's side should be confident of collecting another three points in this competition, after a comfortable victory last week against Koge.
Steph Catley, Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord, Anna Patten and Jordan Nobbs secured a 5-1 win in Denmark one week ago, and mean that the Gunners continued to apply pressure on group leaders Barcelona.
Koge will be looking to defend well against Arsenal on Wednesday in their attempt to avoid the same scoreline as last week, and they enter this clash on the back of another victory in the Danish league.
Soren Randa-Boldt's side defeated struggling AGF Kvindefodbold 2-0 thanks to goals from Maddie Pokorny and Lauren Sajewich, leaving Koge seven points clear at the top of the table and unbeaten in their opening 13 matches.
Wednesday's visitors would have been pleased to get on the scoresheet against the Gunners last week, courtesy of Pokorny's 71st-minute strike, as that was the team's first goal in this competition this year.
Koge will be looking to emulate a similar defensive display which they showed in gameweek two of the Champions League, when they limited Barcelona to just two goals, their best result of their European campaign this season.
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Team News
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Eidevall will want to ensure his team secure a place in the knockout phases as soon as possible, so the home team are expected to field a strong 11, including Miedema up top.
Lydia Williams took responsibility between the posts for Arsenal against Koge last week, but number one Manuela Zinsberger is likely to come back into the Champions League starting 11 after also featuring against Spurs at the weekend.
Kim Little, Beth Mead and Katie McCabe all come on from the bench last Wednesday, but the trio started on Saturday, and they could be in line to start again in midweek.
Koge will setup with a back five made up from Emma Skou Færge, Selma Larsen Svendsen, Laura Pedersen, Isabella Bryld Obaze and Signe Markvardsen.
Kyra Carusa will look to help her team get up the pitch as they are expected to have to deal with long periods of Arsenal pressure, with the Irish striker expected to lead the line on her own.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Catley, Boye, Williamson, Maritz; Nobbs, Little, Maanum; Mead, Miedema, McCabe
HB Koge Kvindeelite possible starting lineup:
Marckese; Færge, Svendsen, Pedersen, Obaze, Markvardsen; Floe, Sajewich, Jankovska, Pokorny; Carusa
We say: Arsenal Women 4-0 HB Koge Kvindeelite
Arsenal are strong favourites for this clash and they are expected to not only win this game, but also by a comfortable margin, just like they did last week.
Eidevall will want his team to get the job done quickly so he can maybe rest some key players, so the home side are likely to come flying out of the traps looking for an early goal.
Sammy Wynne
