Report as Arsenal secure a 3-0 win over Linkoping in Champions League qualifying; second-half goals from Caitlin Foord, Lina Hurtig and Stina Blackstenius secured victory; Arsenal now face Paris FC on Saturday for a chance to reach the second qualifying round
22:51, UK, Wednesday 06 September 2023
Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League qualification campaign got off to a winning start as Jonas Eidevall’s side secured a 3-0 win over Sweden’s Linkoping.
Second-half goals from Caitlin Foord (53), Lina Hurtig (81) and Stina Blackstenius (90) made it a winning start to the season for the Gunners, who now face Paris FC in France on Saturday for the chance to reach the second round of qualification – the round before the group stage.
Alessia Russo, Amanda Ilestedt and Cloe Lacasse were all given their Arsenal debuts in Sweden.
After a tight first half, which saw Kim Little’s early penalty saved, all the goals came in the second half with Foord and Hurtig finding the back of the net with headers before the Blackstenius ended a comfortable night for the Gunners.
There was more positive news for Arsenal, who named England international Beth Mead on the bench after nine months out with a knee injury.
Arsenal are now ready for Saturday’s final against Paris FC.
Eidevall praised the impact of the new signings
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall on the performances of his new signings:
“It is very important for us to have the option to play with wide forwards who can play more wide and can continue in one-on-one situations. I am very happy with Cloe [Lacasse] came in because she looked just like Beth Mead.
“That gives us good depth and quality on the right side. Then we have Caitlin Foord and Lina Hurtig on the left side who are both players in the way they can protect the ball and get in with their right foot. I like the our options.
“I think time is important when we try to improve quality and we don’t have a lot of time. [the new signings] everything is fine today.”
What’s next for Arsenal in the Champions League?
The Gunners will face the winners of Paris FC on Saturday September 9, again in Linkoping; kick-off 2pm.
WCL: Won for Celtic and Glasgow City
Celtic registered their first win in a Champions League tie as Kelly Clark’s second-half goal gave them a 1-0 win over Brondby in Oslo.
Clark’s tight finish after a 68th-minute corner saw Celtic advance to the final of their round-one group where they will play Valerenga.
City of Glasgow secured their place in their round-one group final after beating Shelbourne 2-0 in a morning kick-off and will now face Lithuanian side Gintra.
Kinga Kozak’s effort for Glasgow before the break hit the crossbar and second-half goals from Brenna Lovera and Lauren Davidson saw the Scottish side progress.
Glasgow’s next opponents Gintra knocked Cardiff out of the competition as two goals from Nigeria forward Juliet Bassey in Siauliai sealed a 2-0 win.
Irish Premiership champions CliftonvilleThe first ever Champions League tie ended in an 8-1 loss to Benfica in Lisbon.
Marie D’Anjou led Benfica in the first half and after Fionnula Morgan’s own goal, further efforts from Lucia Alves and Andrea Falcon gave the hosts a 4-0 lead at the interval.
Lara Martins added two more for Benfica early in the second half and Caitlin McGuinness headed Cliftonville’s first European goal before Alves and Beatriz Nogueira extended the Portuguese side’s lead.
How Champions League qualification works…
The first round of Champions League qualification consists of two knockout games. As previously mentioned, Arsenal will now face Paris FC on Saturday September 9 for a place in the second round of qualification.
In the second round, the Gunners will face only one team. They will play a home and away leg as they look to reach the group stages of the Champions League.
Wolfsburg, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Sparta Praha, BK Häcken and Manchester United all enter the competition at this stage.
The round-two knockout matches will take place in October and will decide which 12 teams will join automatic qualifiers Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea in the group stages in November.
How to follow the WSL on Sky Sports digital platforms
Follow all the latest from the Women’s Super League on SkySports.com and app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus dedicated live blog coverage and in-game clips from games live on Sky Sports.
You can also watch free game highlights from every WSL game this season on Sky Sports’ digital platforms and YouTube channel, while all games will continue to be shown on both Sky Sports Football, as well as on Sky Showcase, which is available in all Sky homes, even without a Sky Sports package, giving the competition more visibility.
With coverage and visibility for the league on all of Sky Sports’ main social media channels, the bespoke Twitter channel @SkySportsWSL will continue to be the home of all Barclays FA WSL content on Sky Sports.
The Sky Sports WSL TikTok account gives fans 360° coverage of the league and gives them exclusive access to their new favorite players. Through fun challenges and interviews, along with behind-the-scenes footage, viewers will get to know an array of WSL personalities and see the game from a new set of angles.
In the meantime, fans can also keep up to date with everything on and off the pitch with the return of the Three Players and a Podcast, hosted by Caroline Barker.
Key dates for the 2023/24 season
- Opening weekend of the Barclays Women’s Super League: Sunday October 1
- Opening week of the Barclays Women’s Championship: August 26 – August 27
- FA Women’s Continental League Cup Final: March 30/31
- Final weekend of the Barclays Women’s Championship: Sunday April 28
- Vitality Women’s FA Cup final: May 11/12
- Barclays Women’s Super League final weekend: Sunday May 18