Women’s Champions League: Arsenal and Manchester City eye quarter-final spots

City and Arsenal, who are playing in the Champions League for the first time since 2013, are united in their ambition to end the four-year long domination of the competition by six-times winners Lyon.

The closest City have come to silverware was successive semi-final defeats by Lyon in 2017 and 2018, but Arsenal have at least lifted the trophy.

They won it back in 2007, external by beating Swedish side Umea – and they started this season’s competition well with a 6-0 aggregate victory over Fiorentina.

The Gunners now take on Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic capital, but do so on a bit of a down following Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Chelsea.

It was only their second defeat in their last 14 competitive games, but it cost them their leadership of the WSL to City, who now have the only remaining 100 per cent record.

“Obviously we’re a bit deflated. We need to turn it around quick in the Champions League. That’s where our full focus goes to now.

“There’s nothing better than having a game so soon after a game like Sunday’s,” defender Lisa Evans told Arsenal.com.

“Obviously, recovering players is going to be a big one,” added Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro. “We’ve only had a three-day turnaround to work with.

“Most of our players played two games with their national teams so some of them haven’t had much recovery, but that’s football. That’s the way it is. There’s no excuses. We want to be in the professional game.”

Their return leg will be at Meadow Park on Thursday 31 October.

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