Barcelona v Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League
Barcelona host Arsenal at Camp Nou in a Women’s Champions League match scheduled to kick off at 5.45pm GMT. The game is being played while the stadium remains a building site, with Guardian Football reporter Suzanne Wrack describing a confusing route through the construction area before reaching the media entrance. The unfinished surroundings provide an unusual backdrop to a fixture whose outcome is difficult to predict: Arsenal could leave with a narrow 1-0 victory, but a heavy defeat would also be unsurprising.
Arsenal’s starting lineup includes Misa in goal, with Fox, Williamson, Catley and Hinds in defence. Stanway, Little and Baum form the midfield, while Maanum starts as the No 10 behind Foord and Russo. Russo has been in strong form both as a central striker and in the No 10 role, and her selection at centre-forward gives Arsenal a more clearly defined attacking shape. Wrack suggests that the positional change could provide a spark for a team that has been struggling.
Barcelona start Coll, Camara, Paredes, Van Asten and Brugts, with Serrajordi, Guijarro and Schertenleib in midfield. Hansen, Pajor and Pina lead the home attack. Arsenal’s substitutes include Borbe, Damm, Wubben-Moy, de Almeida, Smith, Reuteler and Batlle, while Barcelona can call on Font, McCamey, Torrejon, Bonmati, Julia, Fernandez, Torres, Dominguez and Jimenez.
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