FEATURED: Arsenal v Paris FC – Match Facts | OneFootball

Arsenal will be hoping to advance to Round 2 of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League when they contest their Round 1 final against Paris FC this afternoon.

The Gunners saw-off Swedish club Linköping FC with a 3-0 victory in their semi-final tie and the third-best side in France now await them at the Linköping Arena.

Ahead of Arsenal’s latest European fixture, FAWSL Full-Time have reviewed the match information provided by UEFA. Here are three facts about The Gunners’ meeting with Paris FC.

Arsenal’s rotten record against French opposition

Arsenal have won just one of their 10 ties against French opposition in the UEFA Women’s Champions League while they have lost seven. That being said, their one victory has come during Jonas Eidevall’s tenure with The Gunners demolishing Lyon 5-1 in their own backyard last season.

Latest French opponents Paris FC are the lowest-ranked team from that nation that the North Londoners have ever faced and Arsenal go into the game as favourites.

Last season’s contrasting fortunes

Both clubs participated in last season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League but experienced very different journeys in the competition. Paris FC have been in this position before. After winning a Round 1 semi-final against Servette, they fell at the second hurdle as they lost their final tie 5-4 to AS Roma on penalty kicks. Meanwhile, Arsenal enjoyed their best European campaign for more than a decade. They went all the way to the semi-finals before losing to VfL Wolfsburg 5-4 on aggregate.

Both sides have started in Round 1 this season as a result of their third-place finishes in their respective leagues last term.

Blackstenius carries on goal record

Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius continued her good goalscoring record in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a goal in the 3-0 win over Linköping FC in midweek. The player has now scored seven goals in 15 tournament matches in an Arsenal shirt.

Blackstenius was the joint-second highest goalscorer in the main tournament last season with five goals while she also netted against Ajax in the home leg of The Gunners’ Round 2 tie.

Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 final tie against Paris FC kicks-off at 2pm.

Source: UEFA Information Kit