Key occasions
The pre-match postbag is right here. Peter will get in contact:
The inhabitants of Sankt Pölten – 60,000 – is lower than one-third of Hammersmith and Fulham's. The London giants are the overwhelming favourites however the Wölfinnen (She-Wolves) aren't gonna go down and not using a howling struggle.
St Pölten's head coach, Laurent Fassotte, was appointed on 23 October, changing Lisa Alzner, and this match in opposition to Chelsea will solely be his third in cost. St Pölten have gained the Austrian title 10 instances within the final decade however are on a dip of kind, having misplaced a match within the Austrian Cup on Saturday – their first defeat within the competitors since March 2012. Here's what he mentioned in his pre-match press convention.
On Chelsea:
We all know that Chelsea are a really skilled workforce with velocity, tempo and particular person high quality. It will likely be a tough job, however we'll struggle for 90 minutes.
We have now to remain centered and focus totally on our job all through all the match. Our gamers must take pleasure in these moments after they compete in opposition to groups of this calibre.
Here's what Sonia Bompastor mentioned in her pre-match press convention.
On the potential for beginning a weaker facet:
We're a workforce that create a whole lot of alternatives. We are able to transfer the ball excessive up the pitch so then it's right down to ending them. The gamers ought to be assured; they simply must keep away from overthinking.
On Peng beginning after Hampton picked up an harm in opposition to Arsenal:
She hasn't had a whole lot of minutes, however she performed effectively within the first recreation in opposition to Twente and she or he is performing effectively in each coaching session.
It's a constructive for her to play within the recreation and we're assured in her. She has a whole lot of high quality and she or he might be enjoying. That's what we're centered on.
And on St Pölten:
They're a well-organised defensive unit, very compact. They don't enable you a lot house on the pitch and they're aggressive out of possession, so it's all the time tough to interrupt their strains, to interrupt their block. An early purpose can be nice; if not, we should keep affected person.
Here's a reminder as how Chelsea have fared within the Champions League to this point this season.
Sophie Downey's verdict at Stamford Bridge after 4 completely different goalscorers made their mark in opposition to Paris FC.
And Suzanne Wrack on their lower than splendid begin again firstly of October.
Workforce information
St Pölten (4-4-1): Schlüter; Krizaj, Nagy, Ebert, Klein, Ollivier; Elmore, Peneau, Laino, Gutmann; Brunold.
Subs: Hermsmeier, Vracevic, Aistleitner, Rukavina, Seiro, Woelki, Matavkova.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Peng; Carpenter, Bronze, Girma, Baltimore; Kaptein, Walsh, Macario; Rytting Kaneryd, Thompson, Kerr.
Subs: Spencer, Brilliant, Buurman, Nüsken, Cuthbert, James, Björn, Charles, Hamano, Jean-François, Potter.
An anticipated weakened facet for the guests. It will likely be fascinating to see how the midfield three of Wieke Kaptein, Keira Walsh and Catarina Macario function.
Sam Kerr will get her first begin for Chelsea since her harm in 2023 whereas Naomi Girma will get her first minutes of the season. Lauren James can also be again within the squad after returning to coaching this week and makes the bench.
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer (Germany)
Preamble
Chelsea are again in Ladies's Champions League motion and might be hoping to proceed their sturdy run of kind in opposition to St Pölten, the Austrian facet but to choose up a degree within the competitors.
Sonia Bompastor's facet began the league part with a disappointing draw in opposition to Twente however made up for it with a 4-0 hammering of Paris FC a month in the past.
The WSL champions will hope that is the yr they lastly finish their anticipate European glory and they're going to absolutely be aiming for one of many 4 computerized qualification spots for the quarter-final to make that purpose simpler. Because it stands, Chelsea are in a knockout part playoff place with two factors separating them from the highest 4.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm GMT on the NV Enviornment. Be part of me for all of the updates, and as all the time, be happy to get in contact together with your ideas, questions and predictions by way of e mail.
