💫 UWCL Ones to Watch: Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern all need results | OneFootball

The Women’s Champions League is back this week for the second matchday of the group stage.

But which games can you not afford to miss?

Juventus v Chelsea

It didn’t take long for Emma Hayes to take on ex-Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro again and she’ll be hoping she can continue her fine record against the Australian.

Montemurro ended up on the winning side the first time the pair met before losing seven of the next eight clashes.

Now both enter this one with a huge prize to play for.

After Chelsea drew their opening fixture with five-time UWCL finalists Wolfsburg, the door has been left open for Juventus to take a commanding lead in a group they probably began as third favourites in. They’ll especially be up for it in front of a big crowd at the J Stadium after the club offered tickets to fans for free.

Wolfsburg will likely beat Servette – beaten 3-0 by Juventus last week – in their game and so, looking ahead, the pressure will be on Chelsea if they can’t claim victory in Italy.

Arsenal v Hoffenheim

Arsenal responded well to last week’s 4-1 defeat to Barcelona, beating Everton at the weekend to maintain their 100% WSL record for the season.

Now they need to do the same in Europe. Three points behind Hoffenheim, who won their first ever Champions League proper match last week, the Gunners have home advantage. With Barcelona expected to win finish top, the games against Hoffenheim will almost certainly decide who finishes second.

It will be no easy task. The German outfit finished third last season, with Nicola Billa netting 23 in 21 to finish as the Frauen Bundesliga’s top scorer. The Austrian has netted in each of her last three games after a surprisingly  slow start to the new season.

This could be make or break for both sides.

Bayern Munich v Häcken

Bundesliga giants Bayern will be disappointed they could only draw with Benfica last time out.

Having won the league for the first time since 2016 this season, their sights will not only be on repeating that feat but proving it is time to consider them contenders in Europe too. Last season’s semi-finalists are in a group with Lyon and that 0-0 draw with Benfica sent the wrong message to the rest of the continent.

Häcken, who lost 3-0 to Lyon last time out, will be no pushovers but they will potentially face the backlash from last week’s disappointment.

Lea Schüller, now into her third season at Bayern, looks ready to take the leap to the next level this season and is one to watch.