Key events
An interesting watch:
Twente coach Joran Pot said before the game: “We are the underdogs, it’s as simple as that, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance. We’re excited to have an opponent of this calibre – it shows that we’re making great strides. If we play to our potential, we can make it difficult for Chelsea. It’s about executing the small things we’ve discussed well.”
Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan said: “The past few seasons have been challenging, but I’m improving on and off the pitch. This might be my best season yet, but I know there’s more to come. It’s great to have [former Lyon team-mate] Lucy [Bronze] back [in England]. We’ve both grown as players, and our partnership feels strong. Communication has been key as we adapt to the new coach and style.”
Catarina Macario will not be a part of Chelsea’s squad in today’s match as she continues to build fitness. Macario suffered a knee irritation in the summer. Manager Sonia Bompastor said: “We are building some minutes and building her fitness. That’s part of the plan and part of her own process. We work a lot individually with every player and we try to give them what they need to be fit and back to the best level, or their best version. We just felt it was the good decision to have her stay in London, working individually with some staff, and she will be ready for the game on Sunday.”
Two other English clubs were in action in the Women’s Champions League last night and they both came away with wins. Arsenal beat Vålerenga 4-1, while Manchester City escaped a scare in their 3-2 win over St Polten. You can read both reports:
The team news is in. Twente have named a strong side including their captain Danique van Ginkel.
Twente: Clark, Vliek, Carleer, Knol, Tuin, Te Braeke, Van Dooren, Van Ginkel, Andradottir, Van Dijk, Peddemors.
Subs: De Jong, Bussman, Vissers, Evaraerts, Bormans, Hulst, Ravensbergen, Proost, Oude Elberink, Verdaasdonk, Galic, Ivens.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have benched several stars including Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze.
Chelsea: Musovic, Perisset, Buchanan, Bjorn, Lawrence, Kaptein, Jean-Francois, Baltimore, Hamano, James, Beever-Jones.
Subs: Cox, Hampton, Bright, Nusken, Ramirez, Cuthbert, Reiten, Bartel, Kaneryd, Bronze, Mpome.
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League group stage. Tonight we will be focusing on Twente’s match against Chelsea. The European trophy is the one which has evaded the Blues throughout their history and they will be hoping they can claim it this season.
Chelsea have had a good start to their season and head into this game off the back of a win over rivals Arsenal in the Women’s Super League. They also started their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 win over Real Madrid last week.
Twente, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at the weekend against Excelsior in the Eredivisie and came away with a win against Celtic in their opening Champions League group stage match.
Both clubs will want to keep their winning momentum going in the competition. Team news will drop soon so stay tuned before kick-off at 8pm BST.
