Preview: St Polten Women vs. Wolfsburg Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Wolfsburg Women will look to secure top spot of their Women's Champions League group when they travel to Austria to face St Polten Women on Thursday.

While the German champions have booked their place in the quarter-finals, St Polten have been eliminated from the competition.

Match preview

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St Polten have experienced mixed results in the group stage, beginning with a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Wolfsburg.

They looked well placed to claim all three points on matchday two after taking a two-goal lead against Roma, before giving up their advantage to lose 4-3.

The Austrian side responded with a dramatic victory over Slavia Prague thanks to Maria Mikolajova's last-minute winner, while the reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw.

With four points to their name, St Polten knew they had to beat Roma last week to send the battle for a quarter-final place to the final round of matches, but those hopes dissipated with a 5-0 defeat that saw the Italian side score four late goals in a six-minute period.

Although they are only playing for pride, St Polten will want to round off their European campaign with their first home win of the group stage.

While St Polten have been eliminated from the competition, Wolfsburg will be looking forward to the quarter-finals, although they are still yet to secure first place.

Three wins and a draw from their first four group games presented them with the chance to seal top spot against Slavia Prague last week.

Tommy Stroot's side were ultimately unable to claim the required victory against a resilient Slavia Prague side, who held Wolfsburg to a goalless draw.

The German champions know that they will go through as group winners if they beat St Polten or Roma fail to win in their final group game.

With their 17 competitive games this season yielding 15 wins and two draws, Wolfsburg will certainly be confident that they can clinch all three points on Thursday.

Team News

After dropping down to the bench for the defeat to Roma, Lainie Fuchs could come into the side to slot in at left-back.

Melanie Brunnthaler was also left out of the lineup last week, but she is expected to be brought into the starting XI for the final group game.

Jasmin Eder will retain her place after returning from a one-match suspension to feature in a midfield three last time out.

As for Wolfsburg, they are unable to call upon the services of Jill Roord, who picked up a foot injury on matchday four against Roma.

Despite failing to beat Slavia Prague, Stroot could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup, which would result in Tabea Wassmuth starting a third consecutive game.

Ewa Pajor is currently the Champions League topscorer after racking up six goals in Europe this term, and she will look to add to that tally on Thursday.

St Polten Women possible starting lineup:

Schluter; Tabotta, Balog, Klein, Fuchs; Wenger, Eder, Mikolajova; Madl, Zver, Bruunthaler

Wolfsburg Women possible starting lineup:

Frohms; Wilms, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch; Oberdorf, Lattwein; Wassmuth, Jonsdottir, Popp; Pajor

We say: St Polten Women 0-3 Wolfsburg Women

Wolfsburg may have been unable to secure top spot last week, but we think that they will get the job done by claiming a comfortable victory on Thursday, which would also maintain their unbeaten record for the season.

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