Juventus Women head to Norway to face Valerenga Women on Wednesday in their opening Women’s Champions League group-stage match. Both sides will be competing for a top-two spot in Group C alongside Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
Match Preview
Valerenga Women Valerenga have made history by becoming the second Norwegian team to reach the group stage of the Women’s Champions League. The reigning Toppserien champions navigated through the qualifying rounds, eliminating Farul Constanța and securing a 5-1 aggregate win over Anderlecht in the second qualifying round. Domestically, Valerenga are on the verge of winning their second consecutive Norwegian league title, with a commanding 11-point lead and five matches remaining.
Valerenga’s form is outstanding, winning 11 consecutive matches across all competitions, and they will hope to bring that momentum into their group stage debut against Juventus. Key player Karina Sævik, who has scored six goals in her last seven games, will be pivotal in their attacking play.
Juventus Women Juventus Women enter the group stage full of confidence after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the qualifying round, becoming the first team to knock PSG out before the quarter-finals in over a decade. The Italian champions won 3-1 at home and 2-1 away, showing their ability to perform under pressure.
Juventus have also been dominant domestically, winning all seven competitive matches this season, scoring 23 goals in the process. Despite their red-hot form, they have struggled in past away fixtures in the Women’s Champions League, winning just one of their last six away games in the group stage. Juventus will aim to change that trend and continue their perfect start to the season.
Team News
Valerenga Women Valerenga will be without long-term absentee Mimmi Løfwenius due to a knee injury, and goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins is unlikely to feature, having missed the last nine matches. Karina Sævik will lead the line for Valerenga and look to continue her prolific goal-scoring form.
Possible Valerenga Starting XI:
Enblom; Hørte, Thorsnes, Olsen; Arnesen, Brekken, Bjelde, Heiðarsdóttir; Godø, Tvedten, Sævik
Juventus Women Juventus manager Massimiliano Canzi is expected to make several changes after rotating the squad in the recent win over Sampdoria. Key players like Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Martina Lenzini, and Sofia Cantore are expected to return to the starting lineup.
Possible Juventus Starting XI:
Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Thomas, Bennison, Caruso, Bergamaschi; Beccari, Girelli, Cantore
Prediction
While Valerenga are in excellent form, Juventus have been dominant this season and possess superior European experience. Despite Juventus’ shaky away record in the Champions League, their firepower and depth are likely to prove too much for the Norwegian side.
Prediction: Valerenga Women 1-2 Juventus Women
