We travel to Camp Nou for the first time in Arsenal Women history for Thursday's UEFA Women's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

After getting back to winning ways with a 2-1 win away to Liverpool on Sunday, we've now got the opportunity to overtake Barcelona in the UWCL standings.

Seven points from three games has us third in the league phase, while Barcelona are top with maximum points.

A FLYING START

The season couldn't be going much better than it has been for Barcelona so far, who also sit top of Primera Division with nine wins and just one defeat from their opening 10 matches, scoring 41 goals and conceding only five in the process.

That run included beating second-placed Real Madrid 7-0 at home. Surprisingly, it was Real Sociedad who inflicted Barcelona's only defeat of the campaign in October.

In the Champions League, Pere Romeu's side have cruised past Paris FC (5-2), Roma (6-0) and HB Koge (8-0), prior to last weekend's 5-1 win at home to Madrid CFF in the domestic league.

The club has won Europe's top competition on four occasions - 2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2025/26.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Slegers: "I know about the connection of Barcelona with the fans. I know they're really intense and loud. I remember it from the final. I coached one game at the Camp Nou several years ago. It's a historic, fantastic stadium, so there will be a great atmosphere. 

“We're very proud to have, I think, 1,000 travelling fans from London as well. We'll try to connect as much as possible with them as well. We’re always so privileged to play for our fans. They travel with us across the sea to be with us and to support us. It should be a really nice atmosphere.”

Romeu: "We play against a fantastic team with some very good players. They play very well and have a very clear game model. It's a difficult match, and we'll approach it knowing we're facing a great team and that we'll have to do things very well."

"Despite having won a lot, we still do things as if we had never won anything. Hunger and ambition, as well as the respect we have for one another among the players and staff, are the things I’m most proud of about this team."

TEAM NEWS

We have no fresh team news concerns following the weekend's 2-1 win away to Liverpool, but Ona Batlle has travelled with us to Spain.

The players still missing as they recover from injuries are Daphne van Domselaar, Frida Maanum, Chloe Kelly, Selina Cerci, Mariona Caldentey, Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid.

FACTS AND STATS

Only Lyon (67%) have a better win rate in the UWCL against Barcelona than us (60% - 3/5), last beating them in the 2024/25 final. However, the Spaniards have won their two group stage games against us (4-1 home, 4-0 away in 2021/22).

We are unbeaten in each of our last six league phase/group stage games in the UWCL (W5 D1), our longest run without defeat in this phase since it was introduced in 2021/22.

Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen has been involved in a goal in all three games of her UWCL this season (4 goals, 2 assists) and made her 100th appearance in the competition last time out – Hansen has six goal involvements across her previous 20 outings against English sides (4 goals, 2 assists).

MATCH OFFICIALS

Croatian referee Ivana Martincic has been appointed to take charge of Thursday's match, assisted by Maja Petravic and Ivona Pejic, with Jelena Kumer the Fourth Official.

Martincic was also the referee for our Champions League final win over Barcelona in 2025.

Fran Jovic is on VAR duties alongside Serbian official Milica Milovanovic.

Referee: Ivana Martincic

Assistant Referees: Maja Petravic and Ivona Pejic

Fourth Official: Jelena Kumer

VAR: Fran Jovic

Assistant VAR: Milica Milovanovic

HOW TO  WATCH

Supporters in the UK can watch this match live on Disney +. Elsewhere in the world, check out our how to watch article for the full list of broadcasters.