Key events
42 min: Arsenal want another before half-time but this time Maanum lifts it over the bar for a goal kick. You have to say Renee Slegers is putting her hand up for the permanent manager position with these results, whether she will be considered is another thing but she has done a good job in the interim position.
40 min: Arsenal absolutely carve Juventus open and Maanum beats Peyraud-Magnin for it to trickle into the goal. Arsenal have their reward for all of their pressure.
GOAL! Juventus 0-1 Arsenal (Maanum, 38)
It’s been coming.
38 min: Oh hang on, I think the decision went Juventus’ way. I do not understand that call at all. But they are able to clear.
37 min: Some lovely long passes, particularly from Boattin’s boot unlocks some attack but the final pass is loose and Arsenal can mop up the chance. As Arsenal look to counter Foord is brought down and wins a free kick from inside her own half. They piece some play together and then Russo wins a free kick, it is getting tasty out there.
35 min: Juventus are choosing the right options but they just aren’t executing them clinically. The same can be said of Arsenal but the visitors have looked more capable of scoring in front of goal so far.
33 min: Mead gives away a cheap free kick with a barge on Cascarino. Juventus take it short and then the in-swinging ball has too much on it from Caruso and its out for a goal kick.
32 min: Juventus have spells of really slick football but their final pass or touch is letting them down at the moment. Arsenal are definitely having more opportunities but the hosts’ counter attack is carving Arsenal open.
30 min: Peyraud-Magnin makes a wild save with a punch away but luckily for the keeper an Arsenal player was not in its path to knock in the rebound. She has made a few saves like that and if it continues the visitors could pounce.
28 min: Arsenal work it into the box but Cascarino clears, the Juventus player has been so good for the hosts so far. Juventus counter quickly and Beccari has another shot but Van Domselaar saves.
27 min: Russo wins a free kick in the midfield after a Boattin foul. Russo makes a slow return to her feet but she looks okay to continue. The free kick is played backwards and so it launches the latest Gunners attack.
25 min: My word, if that went in it would have be an absolute belter. Fox has taken a long range effort which is just over the bar. Peyraud-Magnin got a fingertip to it but the corner is not awarded for Arsenal.
23 min: As soon as I say Juventus are being quiet, they have a shot on target. Schatzer takes a punt but Van Domselaar was wise to it.
22 min: Foord passes to Russo, who takes a shot but Peyraud-Magnim makes a save but she can’t control it. Cascarino needs to clear it before an Arsenal player can pick up the rebound. It has been all Arsenal for the past 15 minutes.
20 min: Fox has been at the heart of everything good Arsenal are doing so far, she is the linchpin in their attack at the moment. They just need a clinical final touch and they can score.
18 min: Williamson pops it back into the box but it is over the head of Russo and Juventus are able to clear once more.
16 min: Arsenal work it through the team expertly and Mead crosses into the box. Schatzer sees it out for a corner and Arsenal take it short, it ends with the ball hitting the referee and so we will restart with Arsenal possession.
14 min: Arsenal have found their fourth gear as Maanum finds Russo in the box, who rifles off a powerful shot but Peyraud-Magnin saves. Both sides have had promising opportunities so far.
13 min: Peyraud-Magnin roars to herself as staff leave her and she remains on the pitch. Arsenal immediately return to their attack and Fox crosses but the keeper pushes it clear.
11 min: Fox makes a great pass to Russo but she collides with Peyraud-Magnin, who looks to have come away with an injury. there’s a break in play while she receives some treatment.
10 min: Juventus immediately counter and Beccari gets in a great position but her shot is less impressive with it fired directly at Van Domselaar who easily saves.
8 min: Mead and McCabe stand over the ball but it is the Republic of Ireland international who takes is and what a hit it is. It’s on target but Peyraud-Magnin pushes it over the bar for a corner. The delivery was good but Williamson can’t direct it goalward but that phase of play was more promising from the visitors.
6 min: Arsenal were being pinned in their final third but a long ball from Williamson unlocks their attack and Cascarino gives away a free kick.
4 min: Juventus have had the lionshare of possession early on and they have a chance here. Cantore looked to work it passed Van Domselaar but she read it well to see it out for a corner. The hosts take it short but it’s cleared well.
2 min: Juventus have not conceded a goal since they lost to Bayern Munich earlier this competition. It will be tricky for Arsenal to break them down tonight.
Kick-off! Juventus 0-0 Arsenal
Here we go then. Can Arsenal get an away win? Or will Juventus take all the points? All to come.
Here’s your five minute countdown. Get your snacks and beverages ready, the show is about to begin.
The players will be out on the pitch shortly in a crucial match which will help shape how this group looks come the end of the stage. Will Juventus leapfrog the Gunners into second place? All to come with kick-off in 15 minutes time.
Let’s get some snack chat underway shall we? I have once again opted for salted popcorn, a reliable snack choice. What are you digging into for this match? Email me or contact me on X (@rendellx).
Arsenal’s match against Bayern Munich will be moved away from the Emirates because of a clash with the men’s team. Our very own Suzy Wrack wrote about the decision here:
Juventus manager Max Canzi said: “We’ll take them [Arsenal] on by playing our game, we’ve worked on our style of play in these last few months and by now we have our own identity both with and without the ball, so we’ll take them on by looking to play to our strengths, but aware of theirs too.”
Arsenal’s Beth Mead spoke to press in the build-up to the game about interim boss Renee Slegers: “We’ve obviously worked with Renee for quite a while now – in different roles to what she’s in now – but I think she’s taken to it like a duck to water.
“It’s been an easy transition. We know what she gives us – the confidence she gives us, we’re playing good football. As individuals and as a collective, we’re really happy with what Renee is doing for us right now. She deserves the credit.”
The team news is here. Juventus have named a strong team which includes Estelle Cascarino.
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Bergamaschi, Caruso, Schatzer, Boattin; Cantore, Vangsgaard, Beccari.
Subs: Capelletti, Proulx, Kullberg, Lehmann, Rosucci, Girelli, Bonansea, Bennison, Bragonzi, Thomas, Krumbiegel, Gallo.
Arsenal, meanwhile, once again opt for Daphne van Domselaar in goal. They also leave their top scorer in the competition, Mariona Caldentey, on the bench after she missed the Brighton game with muscle strain.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Maanum, Walti; Mead, Russo, Foord.
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Caldentey, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid.
Premable
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Champions League coverage where tonight we will be focusing on Juventus v Arsenal.
The Gunners have had a slightly tumultuous season with Jonas Eidevall resigning but results have been getting the club back on track with their latest a 5-0 victory against Brighton in the WSL.
Arsenal are currently second in their WCL group after losing to Bayern Munich but beating Vålerenga. Juventus, meanwhile, are third in the group, trailing Arsenal on goal difference.
The top two from every group will progress to the knockout stage and so tonight’s game is another crucial fixture for both teams. Arsenal face tough opposition in Juventus, who are currently top of the Serie A table with eight wins and a draw from nine games so far this season.
We will take a look at what both camps have said in the build-up shortly but first let’s take a look at the team news before kick-off at 5.45pm GMT.
