Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Chelsea Women and Celtic Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Chelsea Women will have the chance to seal their place in the Women’s Champions League knockout rounds when they welcome Celtic Women to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The Blues are sitting top of Group B with a 100% record, while Celtic are languishing at the foot of the standings without a point to their name.
Match preview
Chelsea have enjoyed a seamless transition from the Emma Hayes‘s era to life under Sonia Bompastor, who has won all 10 of her competitive matches in charge.
The ninth of those 10 victories took place in Scotland last week when Chelsea came from behind to claim a narrow 2-1 victory over Celtic thanks to goals from Maika Hamano and Ashley Lawrence.
The Blues enjoyed another successful outing in Sunday’s Women’s League clash against title rivals Manchester City, with Mayra Ramirez and Guro Reiten scoring in the second period to clinch a crucial 2-0 victory to move Chelsea two points clear at the top of the table.
Chelsea will now turn their focus back to European action, knowing that a win will guarantee them a quarter-final berth with two games to spare.
In fact, even a draw could be enough to secure a top-two spot as long as Real Madrid beat Twente in the group’s other game on matchday four.
While Chelsea will be the overwhelming favourites for Wednesday’s fixture, they may be mindful of the fact they have won just two of their previous five home games in the UWCL (D2, L1).
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In contrast to their hosts, Celtic had to negotiate qualifying ties against KuPS, Gintra and Vorskla Poltava to secure their place in the main draw.
Unfortunately for Celtic, they have failed to take anything from the opening three matches in their first-ever appearance in the UWCL group stage.
They began the group phase with a 2-0 home defeat against Twente, before they slumped to a 4-0 loss in their away meeting with Real Madrid.
While they went on to lose to Chelsea at Celtic Park, the Scottish giants would have been pleased with the battling performance they put up against the reigning WSL champions.
With six points separating them from the top two, Celtic will be eliminated with two games to play if they lose and Real Madrid avoid defeat, or if they draw and the Spanish side claim all three points against Twente.
Elena Sadiku‘s side will travel to the English capital in a downbeat mood after they fell just short in Sunday’s derby clash against Rangers, with goals from Caitlin Hayes and Saoirse Noonan proving fruitless in a 3-2 defeat.
Chelsea Women Women’s Champions League form:
Chelsea Women form (all competitions):
Celtic Women Women’s Champions League form:
Celtic Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Chelsea are unable to call upon the services of Sophie Ingle, Aniek Nouwen, Niamh Charles, Mia Fishel, Lauren James and Sam Kerr.
Canada international Kadiesha Buchanan is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after it was revealed that she had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Aggie Beever-Jones will serve a one-match suspension after she was sent off for two bookable offences in the closing stages of last week’s win over Celtic.
As for the visitors, they are without the services of long-term absentee Chloe Craig, who is sidelined with an ACL injury she sustained in September.
Kelsey Daugherty will feature between the posts, with the goalkeeper set to be shielded by a back three of Caitlin Hayes, Kelly Clark and Bruna Lourenco.
Jennifer Smith could return to the Celtic midfielder after dropping down to the bench for Sunday’s derby against Rangers.
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore; Nusken, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Hamano, Reiten; Ramirez
Celtic Women possible starting lineup:
Daugherty; Hayes, Clark, Lourenco; Lawton, Ross, Smith, Ashworth-Clifford; McGregor, Gallacher; Agnew
We say: Chelsea Women 4-0 Celtic Women
Chelsea were made to work for the win in last week’s meeting in Scotland, but with home advantage in their favour, we think they will flex their muscles to sweep past Celtic to claim a sizeable victory at Stamford Bridge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
