Arsenal are back in UEFA Women’s Champions League action this week, away to current holders of the prestigious trophy and Spanish giants Barcelona.

Both sides have had great starts to their respective Champions League campaigns. Barcelona beat all three of their opponents they faced before with a 5-2 win against Paris FC, followed by a 6-0 win away to Roma and an 8-0 win against HB Køge. Conceding only two goals in the Champions League league phase campaign so far, it will be a test for Arsenal to try and score some goals on the Catalan giants.

Arsenal, while struggling in their domestic league games, work better in the Champions League. The North London side beat HB Køge in match week one by a goal to nil thanks to Mariona Caldentey converting a late won penalty for all three points. The Gunners drew 2-2 to Paris FC after throwing away their 2-0 lead in the second half due to defensive errors but made up for it in their 3-0 win against Benfica– all credit to Alessia Russo and her hattrick.

Both sides have met before – the last time they did was in the illustrious Champions League final back in Lisbon of May 2025. Arsenal went into the final as underdogs and came out victorious over Barcelona, beating them 1-0 under the scorching Lisbon sun thanks to Stina Blackstenius’ goal in the 74th minute.

Before that in the previous group stages of the competition, Barcelona won both legs in 2021 with a whopping 8-1 score line on aggregate.

Renée Slegers will be looking to prove that her side can continue to compete in the Champions League despite their season domestically not reflecting the Arsenal standards and that they can challenge the big teams in Europe.

For Barcelona, it is a match for revenge. The last time the two met Arsenal won the Champions League trophy and took away the 4th title from the Catalan team so Pere Romeu will have set his side up to seek revenge against the Gunners at Camp Nou.

Team News

Barcelona

Barcelona have Kerolin out of action for the game against Arsenal with a foot injury despite her playing in the Liga F match day against Madrid CFF over the weekend.

Irene Paredes trained with the squad and Romeu is hoping that she will be available for the clash.

Kika Nazareth is also out with a thigh injury and not expected to be in the team sheet for Barcelona.

Arsenal

Arsenal will be missing Daphne van Domselaar, who is near return from injury but not shortlisted in Arsenal’s Champions League squad.

Katie Reid continues to be out with an ankle injury she sustained in training while Michelle Aygemang is out recovering from her ACL injury. Mariona and Selina Cerci continue to be out with their respective injuries also.

Chloe Kelly is back on grass but unavailable for the fixture while she continues to rehab her hamstring injury.

Blackstenius is out with an achilles injury and there is no time frame on her return.

Ona Batlle travelled with the squad to Barcelona but there was no other indication whether or not she would play from Slegers press conference in Barcelona.

Possible Line Ups

Barcelona

Coll, Schertenleib, Paredes, van Asten, Brugts, Parti, Serrajordi, Pina, Aitana, Graham Hansen, Pajor

Arsenal

Misa, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Hinds, Stanway, Little, Baum, Foord, Russo, Smith

Key Players

Barcelona – Patri Guijarro

Barcelona is a team full of superstars, including three time Ballon D’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí but the most influential and key player to the Catalan giants would be Patri Guijarro.

Current captain of Barcelona, Patri sits in the defensive midfield spot for the Spanish champions and rarely ever puts a foot wrong in any game she plays for them. Just this season alone, Patri has scored four goals and got six assists in all competitions so she will definitely create problems for the entire Arsenal team.

Not only is Patri good on the ball, she is good off it too. She will create spaces for her teammates by dragging her opponents away when they mark her but also be the leader on the pitch and encourage her teammates.

Arsenal player Georgia Stanway recently admitted in an interview that Patri was one of the hardest players to play against simply because she is so technically gifted and she will get out of any closed down action by opponents.

Patri ranked fifth in the 2026 Ballon D’Or awards and is sought highly regarded by teammates and opponents alike so if Barcelona want to beat Arsenal then Patri needs to be in the best form of her life against the Gunners.

Arsenal – Alessia Russo

It has been spoken about before in many ways but Alessia Russo is Arsenal’s star player this season. Despite not having the start to the season she wanted, Russo has been on fire for the Gunners since the end of September.

Russo’s brace against Liverpool to secure the win for the Gunners saw her goal tally go up to nine in her past 12 games for club and country – with seven of Arsenal’s last goals being scored by the English striker herself.

Last time out in the Champions League, Russo scored a hattrick against Benfica to seal all three points at Meadow Park in Boreham Wood and fans will be looking for her to do the same at Camp Nou against Barcelona. Not only to continue her goal scoring streak but to prove that they can win against the Catalan giants.

Arsenal will need all players to be on the top of their game, especially the shaky defence that they seem to have but with Alessia Russo in form – she is sure to get herself some goals at the iconic stadium in Catalonia.

Match Details

Where is the game being played?

The game is being played at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

What time is the game on?

Kick off for the game is on Thursday 12 November, 2026 at 17:45 GMT / 18:45 CET.

Where can the game be watched?

For fans and viewers in the UK, the game is being streamed live on Disney+ via ESPN with highlights available after the game.