Arsenal Women will host Real Madrid in the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday at Meadow Park, aiming to end a winless run across competitions. The Gunners sit 11th with three points from three games, while unbeaten Real Madrid hold fifth place with seven points. Coach Renée Slegers dismissed any hangover from last season's title win, focusing on preparation against a more open Madrid side.
Arsenal enter the matchday four fixture without new injuries, maintaining the same squad availability, though captain Leah Williamson remains sidelined until December as she progresses in training. The team has endured a tough stretch, winless in their last three outings: a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich where they led 2-0 at halftime via goals from Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey, before substitutes Alara Sehitler and Pernille Harder turned the game, with Glodis Viggosdottir sealing it in the 86th minute; and draws against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the Women's Super League, where they sit fourth with four wins, four draws, and one defeat.
This marks Arsenal's first English loss from a two-goal lead in Champions League history, and they have now dropped two such games this season. In the competition, they have three points from a 2-0 win over Benfica and losses to Bayern (3-2) and Lyon (1-2). Slegers emphasized internal expectations over external pressure: "Of course, through the UWCL win and really good performances last year, expectations rise. I don't think the expectations from the outside are affecting us."
Real Madrid, unbeaten with two wins and a draw, recently suffered a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona but have seven points. Slegers anticipates a more open style: "I think Real Madrid's games might be a little bit more open this year, so that's something that we have to prepare for... You see that their key players play in a little bit different roles this year compared to last year."
Last season's quarterfinals saw Arsenal overturn a 2-0 away deficit with a 3-0 home win. Madrid have lost all four prior Champions League visits to England, conceding at least twice each time. Arsenal aim to leverage home advantage at Mangata Pay UK Stadium.
