On Wednesday, Arsenal will find themselves experiencing a sense of déjà vu as they face OH Leuven in the first leg of the Champions League play-off round in Belgium.
This matchup is reminiscent of their league phase finale, where Renee Slegers’ team secured a decisive 3-0 victory in December, making them clear favorites to progress in this two-legged tie. Should they advance, Chelsea awaits them in the quarter-finals.
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Slegers, whose squad is coming off a win in the FIFA Champions Cup and a recent triumph over WSL leaders Manchester City, is underscoring the importance of maintaining humility to avoid any missteps.
“This is a different context from the league phase where we have two legs and 180 minutes to play,” she stated. “They’re playing the first leg at home, and we’ll host the second. I need to anticipate their game strategy. It’s crucial for them to defend well against us.”
“However, it’s equally vital for us to defend effectively, as I’m sure they will attempt to exploit counter-attacks. We respect them; they’re currently leading the table in Belgium and have performed admirably in the Champions League.”
“Even though we secured a 3-0 win against them last time, we are approaching tomorrow’s challenge with humility.”
In Wednesday’s other match, Paris FC will take on Real Madrid in a rematch of their earlier league phase encounter in Spain, where Caroline Weir netted a late equalizer for Madrid.
The reward for Real is significant, as they will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals, should they emerge victorious.