4 video games down, two to go.
The Girls’s Champions League’s inaugural league part is about for an exciting finale as groups battle to qualify for the knockout stage.
Final 12 months’s overwhelmed finalists Barcelona are the frontrunners, with report eight-time winners Lyon in shut pursuit on the prime, whereas predominant draw debutants Manchester United cleared the path for the trio of Girls’s Tremendous League’s groups.
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Groups ending first to fourth will robotically qualify for the quarter-finals, with the subsequent eight groups – from fifth to twelfth – going through off in two-legged play-offs to find out who will be part of them.
BBC Sport takes a have a look at how the three English golf equipment have fared up to now on the continental stage – and what they should progress.
Arsenal
Alessia Russo scored each objectives as Arsenal got here from behind to beat Actual Madrid on Wednesday [Getty Images]
Holders Arsenal have discovered it robust going within the Champions League this season, with outcomes and performances failing to match the elevated expectations set by that final Could.
A gap night time defeat by Lyon and a complete collapse in opposition to Bayern Munich bookended an unconvincing away win over Benfica, earlier than to safe three factors in opposition to Actual Madrid.
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These outcomes go away the European champions eighth within the desk with six factors from 4 video games performed up to now, and heading in the right direction to complete in one of many play-off spots.
But with their closing two video games of the league part in opposition to groups within the elimination zone – Dutch facet Twente and Belgian outfit Leuven – the Gunners will probably be assured of pushing for a top-four end and automated qualification to the knockouts.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s newest quest to safe a maiden Champions League crown has been a combined bag of outcomes up to now.
They made a stuttering begin with a colorless draw in opposition to Dutch champions Twente, however adopted up by swatting Paris FC apart and hitting St Polten for six, earlier than claiming .
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So after 4 video games performed Sonia Bompastor’s facet are in sixth place, some extent and two locations exterior the highest 4, however with momentum and confidence very a lot on the up.
They host Roma on matchday 5 earlier than travelling to face two-time winners Wolfsburg of their closing league part sport in what might properly be a face to face shootout for automated qualification.
Manchester United
Manchester United took the lead at Wolfsburg earlier than happening to lose 5-2, their first defeat on this 12 months’s league part [Getty Images]
Manchester United loved a flying begin to their debut marketing campaign in Europe, profitable their first three video games in opposition to Valerenga, Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain whereas conceding only one objective. However their progress got here to a shuddering halt on matchday 4 with .
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That chastening defeat in Germany was United’s third loss in 4 matches in all competitions, with a scarcity of squad depth seeking to be taking its toll as they start to wrestle with the calls for of preventing on a number of fronts.
With 9 factors from 4 video games, they presently occupy fourth spot within the standings, which might safe automated qualification to the quarter-finals. Nonetheless appreciable enhancements are required to stay there.
Up subsequent for Marc Skinner’s facet is the go to of Lyon to Leigh Sports activities Village, adopted by a visit to face Italian giants Juventus.
Because it stands desk
All three English golf equipment might nonetheless qualify robotically for the quarter-finals [BBC Sport]
Every staff within the competitors has two video games remaining within the league part – one at house and one away – with their factors tally after matchday six figuring out their closing place within the league part.
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The edges from thirteenth to 18th will probably be eradicated from the competitors.
Because it stands, Manchester United would qualify robotically for the quarter-finals, whereas holders Arsenal and Chelsea would go into the play-offs.
But with simply 4 factors separating United in fourth place and Paris FC in twelfth, issues are removed from determined.
For an added bit of pleasure, all 9 video games on matchday six (Wednesday 17 December) will probably be performed at precisely the identical time (20:00 GMT) so the standings might change proper up till the final whistle of the league part.
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are again for an additional season of the Girls’s Soccer Weekly podcast. New episodes drop each Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus discover interviews and further content material from the Girls’s Tremendous League and past on the