Champions League

TOBIN HEATH bagged her first Champions League goal as Arsenal got their winning groove back in Europe by beating Hoffenheim 4-0.The USA star’s first-half strike and a Vivianne Miedema tap-in were among the efforts that saw the WSL leaders nab their first group stage win.
Tobin Heath netted on the stroke of half-time for Arsenal as the picked up their first Champions League group stage winCredit: Getty
The Gunners will take on Brighton in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals nextCredit: PA
The result was in complete contrast to the 4-1 drubbing Arsenal endured away at Barcelona with the team moving up to second spot in Group C.
After the match, Heath said: “Getting four goals today was a good response after the Barcelona game. 
“We showed a lot of character, we came out with a singular focus. 
“To be able to help with that to get a goal – especially the second goal – I feel like it’s an important goal to get a little bit of space, especially with the way Hoffenheim were playing.  
“They played so direct and aggressive, so I think it was an important goal. 
“I thought it was a good team goal too. It was a great cross and Viv (Miedema) put it into my path to be able to score. It was quality all around.”

The Gunners began patiently with Hoffenheim getting off to a fast start with Nicole Billa sending her third-minute shot narrowly over the crossbar.
And moments later Tine De Caigny looked to capitalise on a ball lofted in behind the hosts’ defence before being flagged offside.
Arsenal began to take control and got off the mark in the 20th minute with Kim Little netting from the spot after Michaela Specht fouled Beth Mead in the penalty area.
The Gunners would double their lead on the stroke of half-time with Heath slotting home in the box after Miedema nodded a ball from a Katie McCabe cross into her path.
And the Netherlands goal machine got on the scoresheet tapping in Arsenal’s third after Jordan Nobbs’ thunderstrike stung the palms of keeper Martina TufeKovic.
The visitors had a couple of good chances to score in the game’s closing stages.
Katie McCabe cleared Sarai Linder’s header off the line in the 73rd minute
Leah Williamson headed in Arsenal’s fourth goal against HoffenheimCredit: Getty
Moments later Julie Brand forced an impressive reflex save from Manuela Zinsberger.
And a Leah Williamson header saw Jonas Eidevall’s side wrap up a 4-0 win
The result comes on a day the Gunners gaffer and Beth Mead won the WSL Manager and Player of the Month awards for September.

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PERNILLE HARDER helped Chelsea thwart high-flying Juventus in an entertaining Women’s Champions League tussle in Turin.The Denmark captain and Erin Cuthbert were on target as the Blues bounced back with a 2-1 victory to nab their first win in Europe this term.
Pernille Harder and Erin Cuthbert were both on target in Chelsea’s 2-1 win away at JuventusCredit: Getty
Chelsea have moved to second in Group A behind Wolfsburg ahead of their game against Swiss side ServetteCredit: AFP
On Harder’s efforts, Blues boss Emma Hayes said: “Pernille had an outstanding performance. She’s taken us to an even higher level. 
“Her standards day-in, day-out are what every young person should look up to. I’m so glad she’s part of our squad.”
Hayes added: “It was a difficult first half, but Erin drove inside and kept going like we know she’s capable of.
“She’s another player who’s had a good pre-season, and took her chance and at this level, you’re not going to get a lot of chances.”
The match in the atmospheric home of Juve’s Allianz Stadium saw ex-Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro pitting his wits against Hayes for the first time since February.
Coming into this game the Italian side, who are second in Serie A’s Women’s division, had won their first six top-flight encounters including a 2-0 defeat of Napoli.

And while the Turin club began brightly, it was the WSL champs who got on the score sheet first.
They did so through Erin Cuthbert’s surging run into the box from the right with the Scotland ace latching on to a Pernille Harder pass to slot home in the 30th minute.
However, Juve, who looked dangerous through Lina Hurtig’s pace and their lofted passes into the box, refused to be bowed.
And they equalised with a Barbara Bonansea volley moments later prompting a huge roar from the 16,781 strong crowd.
The opening minutes of the second half saw Juve’s Christina Girelli unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty after going down in the box following a challenge from Magda Eriksson.
Barbara Bonansea pulled a goal back for Juventus in the first halfCredit: Getty
And the visitors piled on the pressure with Melanie Leupolz blazing a 58th minute shot over the bar and Harder shooting narrowly wide moments later.
However, the Ballon d’Or nominee got her second goal in the tournament.
The midfielder latched on to a loose ball following a one-two between Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby to bury Chelsea’s second.
The Champions League is the highest level and the reality is that the top teams find a wayJoe Montemurro
Hayes’ players came close to snatching a third with 17 minutes of normal time remaining.
This came with Sam Kerr’s long-range effort prompting a flying save from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to keep the ball out of the top-left corner.
Joe Montemurro said the match was a ‘massive learning curve’ for his playersCredit: Getty
The Blues, who take on Servette next in Europe, saw out the win to move to second in Group A behind Wolfsburg with Juve dropping to third. 
Following the result, Montemurro said: “The Champions League is the highest level and the reality is that the top teams find a way.
“Chelsea found a way. We have to learn to make sure these moments don’t happen.”

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EMMA HAYES spoke of her joy at watching AC Milan during childhood ahead of Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League clash with Juventus.And the Blues chief – who is half-Italian – is looking forward to her team’s test against a side coached by ex-Gunners chief Joe Montemurro.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes sees Italy as the ‘home of brilliant defending’ in footballCredit: Reuters
The Chelsea boss grew up admiring the San Siro side in the late 80s and players such as Franco Baresi and Paolo MaldiniCredit: Getty
Reflecting on her admiration of the Italian game, Hayes, 44, said: “I think Italians teams are notorious for having an unbelievable understanding of what it takes to win matches.
“I have an Italian father and I have huge respect for Italian football.
“I grew up with AC Milan in my house and watching the late 80s and 1990s group with [Franco] Baresi, [Mauro] Tassotti, [Paolo] Maldini and [Marco] Van Basten. Italy is the home of brilliant defending.”
The WSL champs will take on an in-form Juventus outfit who are currently second in Italy’s top-flight behind Sassuolo.
They have won their first six games in the Serie A Women’s division.
Chelsea, who registered a point after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg, are looking to pick up their first win in the contest’s new group stage at Juventus Stadium

Montemurro’s players are currently top of the group after their 3-0 defeat of Swiss club Servette with the Blues lying in third.
Hayes added: “Juventus are a team that I have watched over the last few years.
“I had a big interest when Eni [Aluko] was playing there and followed the team when Eni joined and watched their stature grow in Italian football.
“I know with Joe’s experience they have a coach with a pedigree of working with top players.
“This will be as tough a task as the one we faced against Wolfsburg.”
Joe Montemurro’s Juventus are targeting their second win in the Women’s Champions League group stageCredit: Rex
Montemurro’s Juve aces have set a new Serie A Women’s record of 30 consecutive wins in the division.
The Turin outfit come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win against Napoli in Italy’s top tier.
But in Europe, Montemuro, who left Arsenal at the end of last season, sees Chelsea and Barcelona as the yardstick for clubs to measure themselves against.
I’m so proud of the fact that our team has produced more Ballon d’Or nominees than any other sideEmma Hayes
The 52-year-old told BBC Sport: “Chelsea are one of the best organisations in world football, both men’s and women’s, their expenditure is well beyond what we could dream of.
“The players they have are of world-class status, and they are playing in a tough league.
“We want to be on this stage and be competing against the best. The more we can have these moments and these experiences, the better we will be.”
Chelsea’s trip to Juventus Stadium comes days after five of the club’s squad made the shortlist for this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or awards. 
Fran Kirby, Jessie Fleming, Magda Eriksson, Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr are among seven WSL stars in contention for the award.
Hayes is proud to see five of her players on the shortlist for this year’s Women’s Ballon d’OrCredit: Rex
Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Manchester City’s Ellen White make up the other names from England’s top-flight clubs on the shortlist.
Hayes said:  “I’m so proud of the fact that our team has produced more Ballon d’Or nominees than any other side.
“They’re brilliant women who are exemplary at what they do and I’m glad to see them getting recognised for that and nominated.”
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BARCELONA brought Arsenal’s nine-game winning streak to a grinding halt with a ruthless attacking display.  A clinical strike from ex-Gunner Asisat Oshoala was among the goals that saw the WSL aces dispatched 4-1 in an intense Women’s Champions League duel.
Asisat Oshoala was on target for Barcelona netting their second goal against ArsenalCredit: Avalon.red
Caroline Graham Hansen was a constant threat down the right for last term’s Women’s Champions League winnersCredit: Getty
The defeat leaves the Gunners third in their group and in a need of a win to aid their quest to reach the contest’s quarter-finals.
And it sees Barca go second behind German side Hoffenheim who crushed Danish outfit HB Koge 5-0.
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Barcelona played in a way where they really denied us a lot of space and time when we win the ball double in the first half. 
“On just on a few occasions we succeeded in playing the ball out to toward our open spaces and if you watch the second half in comparison, we did that many more times. 
“And, of course, that’s sometimes how football is. We played a team that’s better than any other opponent we have played so far this year.
“That will prepare us for the future, and we will learn from it, and we will need to raise our standards and hopefully do better.”

Arsenal, so dominant in domestic competition, spent much of the game chasing the ball, maintaining five at back when sitting deep.
Their hosts, intent on getting off the mark quickly and defeating their third WSL team this year, enjoyed 70 per cent of possession.
That dominance bore fruit with Mariona Caldentey opening the scoring moments after the half-hour mark.
The midfielder walloped in Barca’s first after Oshoala’s bottom-left corner shot was parried by keeper Manuela Zinsberger. 
And the ex-Arsenal ace was involved in Barcelona’s second goal of the evening minutes before half-time. 
The Nigeria striker hovered around Arsenal’s defence, before jetting down the right and into the box and cutting a pass back for Alexia Puttellas to net from eight yards out.
Our expectation is to be loyal to our style and to play the way we know how to play. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is.Mariona Caldentey
The second half saw Barca extend their lead with Oshoala getting on the scoresheet for the hosts’ third.
The scoreline prompted Eidevall to shuffle his cards in the 56th minute with Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord and Tobin Heath coming on for Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Katie McCabe.
And it was a tactical move that worked to great effect with Parris seeing her shot cleared off the line in the 74th minute before Frida Maanum nabbed a goal for the visitors moments later.
A superbly placed Tobin Heath cross led to the Norway ace bundling the ball over the line.
Barca had a couple more attempts on goal before super sub Lieke Martens wrapped up the win.
And she did so by exploiting Arsenal’s high line with a well-timed run evading Leah Williamson to net Barca’s fourth.  
The Catalan giants came close to increasing their goal tally to five with the ref pointing to the spot after Alex Puttellas hit the turf following a Jordan Nobbs tackle. 
And Zinsberger pulled off an impressive save parrying the ball out of danger with the game ending 4-1.
Mariona Caldentey says Barca will be ‘loyal’ to their style of play no matter who their opponents areCredit: Getty
Barca midfielder midfield ace Caldentey said: “There’s a long way to go (in the competition) and there is much to do, but what we have to do is concentrate on ourselves. 
“Our expectation is to be loyal to our style and to play the way we know how to play. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is.
“If we play our game if we feel comfortable, and if we play the one, the way we want, I think that we’re a very difficult team to defend (against).”

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JONAS EIDEVALL reckons toppling Barcelona will NOT be Arsenal’s season-defining moment if his side defeats Europe’s football queens.And the Gunners boss warns his stars will not be showing the defending champions too much respect in their Champions League clash.
Jonas Eidevall says Arsenal will need to be the ‘best versions of themselves’ against BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Barcelona have scored 25 times in their three games before their clash with the GunnersCredit: Rex
The game at the Johan Cruyff Stadium will see two sides with some of Europe’s most feared forwards go head-to-head for the first time since Arsenal’s 7-0 aggregate drubbing of Barca in 2013.
And Eidevall is ‘confident’ his players can compete with the team that crushed Chelsea 4-0 in the contest’s finals in May.
The Arsenal chief told reporters: “I really think Barcelona is the best team with big capital letters. The way they are playing – especially in offence – is very structured.
“We know it’s a very, very big football team that we’re playing against, but they’re human just like we are. They will make mistakes just like we do.
“They are a very good football team, but they are also beatable. It’s 11 humans against 11 humans. In Sweden, we say ‘a shovel is a shovel’.
“We need to be our best version of ourselves and shouldn’t overly respect them either. It’s about us trying to be as good as possible.”

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Both sides come into this game unbeaten in their domestic divisions with the Catalan giants having scored 25 goals in their last three top-flight encounters.
These include 8-0 thrashings of Valencia and Villarreal in Spain’s top division in September.
And Arsenal have scored more away goals in England’s top tier than any other Women’s Super League side.
However, Eidevall says the Gunners will not get carried away should they defeat their rivals on their home turf.
If we win, it’s not like the season is going to end. We have another game coming up against EvertonJonas Eidevall
Arsenal will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run across all competitions so far this termCredit: Getty
The Meadow Park boss added: “This is one game out of many. It’s a really, really nice challenge and we’re looking forward to it.
“But if we win tomorrow, it’s not like the season is going to end. We have another game coming up against Everton.
“If we draw tomorrow the season is going to continue, if we lose the season is going to continue. It’s all about us having a good performance.”
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