Slegers maintains unbeaten Arsenal start with statement Juventus win

Renee Slegers claimed the biggest win of her time as Arsenal’s interim head coach as they beat Juventus 4-0 in the Women’s Champions League on Tuesday.

Since taking over from Jonas Eidevall, Slegers has led the Gunners to four wins from her five games at the helm, though their most recent result was their most impressive.

After seeing Alessia Russo and Emily Fox denied by smart stops from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, the Gunners eventually made the breakthrough seven minutes from half-time.

A well-worked team move saw Caitlin Foord pick out Frida Maanum inside the box, with the Norwegian remaining calm and finishing into the far corner.

Fox again went close with an effort that crashed the crossbar, but Arsenal finally got their second when substitute Stina Blackstenius fired the ball home in the 75th minute.

Mariona Caldentey, another substitute made by Slegers, grabbed the Gunners’ third before Foord sealed a statement win at the Stadio Comunale Vittorio Pozzo Lamarmora.

Heading into Tuesday’s match, Arsenal were winless across their last three Champions League away matches (D1 L2), but were worthy winners in Italy this time around.

They accumulated an expected goals (xG) total of 2.5 from their 17 shots, compared to Juventus’ 1.06 from their 12 attempts during the contest.

An emphatic win on the road! pic.twitter.com/xn7EwHcJRP

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) November 12, 2024

In the other early kick-off taking place on Tuesday, Barcelona romped to a comfortable 7-0 victory over St. Polten, helped by a flurry of goals at the end of the first half.

With the game level after half an hour, Ewa Pajor opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after turning home Ona Batlle’s cross at Carina Schluter’s front post.

Kika Nazareth then doubled Barca’s advantage six minutes later before Pajor notched her second of the game after being picked out by Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati.

Keira Walsh then curled a wonderful effort into the far corner from the edge of the box as Claudia Pina concluded the 13-minute onslaught on the stroke of half-time.

Barca notched their sixth from the spot after Kamila Dubcova brought down Batlle, with Pina sending Schluter the wrong way, before Caroline Hansen completed the scoring to move her side onto six points in Group D.