Arsenal Women face a historic first visit to Spotify Camp Nou for a UEFA Women's Champions League clash with Barcelona on Thursday. The match kicks off at 17:45 BST and is a major test for Renée Slegers's side, who are third in their Champions League group with seven points from three games. In the domestic league, Arsenal sit 6th in the FA WSL with 13 points from nine games, a record of three wins, four draws and two losses.
Barcelona are top of the league phase with a perfect record, having scored 19 goals and conceded just two.
Recent form and key challenges
Arsenal Women travel to Spain on the back of an unbeaten five-match run in all competitions, with recent form of three wins and two draws. Their most recent result was a 2-1 away win against Liverpool last Sunday, with Alessia Russo scoring both goals. That victory lifted them to sixth in the FA WSL, where they have 13 points from nine games. This season, the team has scored 10 goals and conceded 10 in the league. Their recent results include a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on 1 November, a 3-0 win over SL Benfica on 28 October, a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on 24 October, and a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on 17 October.
Russo is the team's top scorer this season with five goals in nine league appearances and has been their primary attacking outlet. The Gunners face significant injury problems, however. Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, midfielders Frida Maanum and Chloe Kelly, forwards Selina Cerci, Mariona Caldentey, and Michelle Agyemang, and defender Katie Reid are all ruled out. The full injury list shows seven confirmed absentees. Defender Ona Batlle, a former Barcelona player, has travelled with the squad after missing the Liverpool match.
Slegers will likely need to adapt her team's usual possession-based approach against a Barcelona side that dominates the ball. Full-back Emily Fox's pace could be a key outlet on the counter-attack. The manager has highlighted passing issues in recent weeks, making a reliable link from defence to attack vital.
What comes next
After the European trip, Arsenal Women host London City Lionesses in the WSL on Sunday 15 November. That domestic fixture is also critical as they aim to close a 12-point gap to leaders Manchester City. The referee for Thursday's match at Camp Nou will be Ivana Martincic. Barcelona's next Champions League outing is away to Paris FC, while Arsenal will host the same opponents.
