Preview: Paris FC v Arsenal Women

We travel to Stade Jean-Bouin in France this week for our first UEFA Women’s Champions League away match of the season against Paris FC.

The 2026/27 campaign began with a 1-0 win at home to HB Koge for us last week, while Paris lost 5-2 at Barcelona.

Our Gunners are looking to get back to winning ways following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea in the WSL.

HIT AND MISS

Paris have had two wins and two defeats so far this season. They began Division 1 Feminine with a 2-0 win at home to Nantes, before suffering a 7-1 defeat away to Lyon, and then getting another 2-0 win at Strasbourg.

Barcelona proved too much for them last Wednesday, although Paris did take a fifth-minute lead at Estadi Johan Cruyff by way of Evelyne Viens, only for Barca to go 4-1 up before half-time.

Last season Paris FC finished ahead of Paris Saint-Germain to claim France's second direct league phase berth for 2026/27. They reached the inaugural knockout phase play-offs in 2025/26, exiting to Real Madrid.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Slegers: “It's a short turnaround, we had a really sharp session on the pitch today which was really positive and I think having played them, of course, from a workload perspective and preparation perspective, it's that game you look at but the opposition will do that as well.

“So I think that's equal in that sense but we know what we're facing tomorrow, we clearly know what we want to try to do against them tomorrow and also what they can expect and what they'll do against us." - Read every word of Renée’s pre-Paris FC press conference.

Soubeyrand: “Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe. Even if their results haven't been perfect lately, they are still a very strong team. They will aim to go all the way.

"They are better than us on paper, but we are here to play, to show what we can do. Like against Barcelona, we will try to play our game and hit them on the break. We want to give them something to worry about."

TEAM NEWS

Renée reported in her pre-match press conference that Chloe Kelly and Steph Catley are both not available for this fixture. Kelly has had some issues with her hamstring, while Catley is managing some back issues.

There was one positive update though, with Elisa de Almeida getting closer to a return, but she also won't be available for Wednesday, alongside longer term absentees Daphne van Domselaar, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang.

FACTS AND STATS

Paris FC will face us for the first time in the UWCL, having lost each of their previous three matches against English opponents in the competition, all against Chelsea (1-4, 0-4 and 0-4 between 2023 and 2025). We did beat them 1-0 in pre-season.

Paris FC have lost each of their last four UWCL games by an aggregate score of 4-12, all against either Real Madrid or Barcelona; it’s their joint-longest losing streak in the competition, alongside another four-game stretch from 2013 to 2023 which included a defeat against English opposition (1-4 v Chelsea).

We were 1-0 winners on MD1 against HB Koge and could start a UWCL campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2022/23, when the first of those victories came in France against Lyon (5-1).

MATCH OFFICIALS

Romanian referee Elena Demetrescu has been appointed to take charge of Wednesday’s fixture, assisted by Bianca Diana Florea and Ana Luciana Puscasu, with Elena Gobjila the Fourth Official.

On VAR duties are Jakob Kehlet from Denmark and Eszter Urban of Hungary.

Referee: Elena Demetrescu Assistant Referees: Bianca Diana Florea and Ana Luciana Puscasu Fourth Official: Elena Gobjila VAR: Jakob Kehlet Assistant VAR: Eszter Urban

HOW TO WATCH

Supporters in the UK can catch the action live on Disney +. Take a look through our list of broadcasters around the world to see where it will be shown in your region.