MY ACCOUNT
Arsenal and Chelsea resume their Women’s Champions League campaigns this week in the first legs of their quarter-final clashes.
The Gunners take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday and the Blues play Lyon at Groupama Stadium 24 hours later.
Elsewhere, Roma meet Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain tackle Wolfsburg in the quest to be crowned queens of Europe.
We take a look at some of the talking points ahead of the action.
Gunners aim to do without crocked stars
Arsenal — the only English club to have won the competition — are looking to reach the semis for the first time in 10 years.
They face German opposition at this stage again after being eliminated in the 2021-22 quarter-finals by Wolfsburg.
Jonas Eidevall’s side made an eye-catching start to their continental campaign, winning 5-1 at defending champions Lyon en route to topping their group.
But losing forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to ACL injuries is a massive blow.
The club re-signed veteran striker Jodie Taylor last week, though she is not part of their Champions League squad.
Currently fourth in the Women’s Super League, they have won each of their last three games — including beating Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental Cup final.
Stan in the way
The Gunners will face England midfielder Georgia Stanway, who scored three times in the group stage after joining Bayern Munich from Manchester City last summer.
Bayern, who finished second behind Barcelona in Group D on goal difference, have twice before reached the Champions League semi-finals.
Last season they bowed out in the quarters with defeat over two legs to PSG.
They are second in the German top flight — two points behind Wolfsburg — and on a 12-match winning streak in all competitions.
Kerr on song for Blues
Chelsea’s Conti Cup final defeat was only their second loss of 2022-23 and first since September.
Otherwise, it has been pretty ruthless form from Emma Hayes’ side, who look well-placed to secure a fourth successive WSL title.
Australia forward Sam Kerr has again been at the forefront, scoring 22 goals for the Blues including 12 since the turn of the year. Five of those came in the group stage.
Hayes’ side topped their pool a year on from failing to make it to the last eight.
Lyon on the prowl
After being thrashed by Arsenal, Lyon’s recovery included beating the Gunners 1-0 at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, their defence of the French league title currently sees them a point clear of PSG at the top.
They have had a number of big names back in action in recent months after injuries and Norway star Ada Hegerberg, who scored one goal and set up another in the 3-1 win over Barcelona in last season’s final, is nearing a return of her own.
The road to Eindhoven
The second legs of these ties take place at the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge next Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
If the English sides progress, Arsenal will then face either PSG or Wolfsburg in the semis in late April, while for Chelsea it will be Barca or Roma.
The final is scheduled for June 3 at PSV Eindhoven’s Philips Stadion.
