Top spot in Champions League Group A will be decided at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening, as first place Chelsea host a PSG side hot on their heels.
Both teams are already assured of their quarter final place, and the Blues are currently three points clear of PSG following a 1-0 win in Paris in October. Top spot will be Chelsea’s if they avoid defeat – and they can even lose 1-0 and still win the group by virtue of goal difference.
For PSG, only winning and scoring at least twice will see them leapfrog Chelsea and progress as group winners, leaving a tantalisingly poised fixture to look forward to.
When is kick off? Thursday 22 December, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Stamford Bridge
TV channel/live stream? DAZN UEFA Women’s Champions League YouTube
Emma Hayes confirmed that Chelsea have the same squad availability as they did for last week’s win away to Vllaznia, with just long-term absentee Pernille Harder continuing to miss out with a hamstring injury.
PSG remain without talismanic striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who is still sidelined after suffering an ACL injury during the group stages of Euro 2022. Jackie Groenen and Estelle Cascarino have not been named in PSG’s match day squad due to illness.
Ramona Bachmann will return to west London for the first time since departing Chelsea in 2020, while PSG captain Grace Geyoro was reportedly a transfer target of the Blues in the summer.
Chelsea recorded one of their most impressive results of the season when they edged to a hard fought 1-0 win in Paris in October to leave them in pole position to qualify for the quarter finals as group winners. The performances have not necessarily been convincing of late against Real Madrid, Reading and Vllaznia, but they have secured the necessary results to leave them in a healthy position heading into the Christmas break.
PSG have improved since their stuttering start to their Champions League campaign, which saw them lose to Chelsea and draw with Real Madrid. They recently overcame league titles rivals Lyon, and Thursday should be a tightly-contested fixture. Ultimately, there may be nothing to separate the sides, but Chelsea will leave the happier.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 PSG
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