Women's Champions League round of 16: tie by tie
Monday, November 6, 2017
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Chelsea and Rosengård players facing their old clubs, debutants against past winners and one rematch: our guide to this week's UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 ties.
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The UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 first legs are on Wednesday and Thursday – here is our quick guide.
Round of 16 ties
Chelsea (ENG) v Rosengård (SWE): 8 & 15 November
- Chelsea, having been knocked out by Wolfsburg in their first two campaigns, eliminated Bayern München in the round of 32.
- Rosengård striker Anja Mittag became the first player to 50 goals when she scored in the last round.
- Rosengård have already sealed their 2018/19 European place by finishing second in the Swedish league; caretaker coach Malin Levenstad will step down after this tie to be replaced by the returning Jonas Eidevall.
- Chelsea have won all seven of their domestic matches this season, scoring 24 and conceding one.
- Chelsea goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl and Rosengård midfielder Anita Asante (who will leave the club after this tie) will be facing their former clubs.
Fiorentina (ITA) v Wolfsburg (GER): 8 & 15 November
- Fiorentina are the only debutants left in this round, having knocked out former finalists Fortuna Hjørring.
- Two-time winners Wolfsburg scored 15 goals over two last-32 legs against Spanish champions Atlético Madrid.
- Wolfsburg are the only past finalists still in this competition other than holders Lyon.
- Wolfsburg's unbeaten start to the season ended on Saturday with a 1-0 loss at surprise Frauen Bundesliga leaders Freiburg; Fiorentina were also beaten 4-2 at home by Brescia.
BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ) v Lyon (FRA, holders): 8 & 15 November
- Last season BIIK lost at this stage to Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to be beaten on penalties by Lyon in the final.
- BIIK have claimed wins against Verona, Sparta Praha and Glasgow City and drawn with FFC Frankfurt and Barcelona in previous home legs.
- BIIK have already booked a European place for next season, winning all 16 games of their Kazakhstan championship campaign, scoring 84 goals and conceding three.
- Lyon have won all ten of their fixtures this season, scoring 58 goals and conceding just twice, in a 9-2 win against Paris FC (the former Juvisy). Ada Hegerberg has scored 17 of those goals.
- Lyon are aiming to be the first five-time winners and the only team to lift the trophy three seasons in a row.
Brescia (ITA) v Montpellier (FRA): 8 & 15 November
- Brescia are in the round of 16 for a third year running; they beat Fortuna in 2015/16 but lost to the same opponent last term.
- Montpellier finished ahead of last season's beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain to take France's second place in Europe; they won 2-0 at 2009 runners-up Zvezda-2005 in Russia to overhaul a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the round of 32.
- Montpellier made it to the semi-finals on their debut in 2005/06.
- Brescia are fresh from their 4-2 league win at Fiorentina while at the weekend Montpellier lost 3-1 at the side they pipped to Europe last season, Paris Saint-Germain.
Gintra Universitetas (LTU) v Barcelona (ESP): 8 & 15 November
- In their only previous appearance at this stage in 2014/15, Gintra lost 5-0 at home to Brøndby, then won 2-0 away.
- Gintra will be back in Europe next year, scoring 169 goals in 18 games in winning a 13th straight Lithuanian title.
- Barcelona were in the semi-finals for the first time last season.
- UEFA Women's Player of the Year for 2016/17 and recently also claiming the FIFA award, Lieke Martens scored home and away in the round of 32 in her first European tie since joining Barcelona.
Sparta Praha (CZE) v Linköping (SWE): 8 & 15 November
- Linköping beat Sparta 2-0 at home and 1-0 away in this round in 2010/11, the fourth time the Prague club had been eliminated by Swedish opposition in eight entries.
- Linköping have already booked their 2018/19 place by retaining the Damallsvenskan title.
- Sparta are contesting this round of the first time since 2012/13.
- On Saturday Sparta drew 2-2 with fellow last-16 contenders Slavia; Prague is the first city to have two teams in this round in the same year.
LSK Kvinner (NOR) v Manchester City (ENG): 9 & 16 November
- Lillestrom-based LSK have secured a fourth straight Norwegian title to ensure their berth in the 2018/19 competition.
- No Norwegian side have reached the quarter-finals since Røa in 2009/10.
- City got to the semis on their tournament debut last season.
- City have won all eight of their matches this season.
Stjarnan (ISL) v Slavia Praha (CZE): 9 & 16 November
- Stjarnan's win against Rossiyanka in the round of 32 was Iceland's first-ever knockout victory in this competition.
- Stjarnan's previous three campaigns had all been ended by Russian opponents.
- Stjarnan finished fourth in the Icelandic league this year; Thór/KA won the title and a 2018/19 European place.
- Slavia are three points ahead of Sparta in the Czech league after the weekend draw.