Häcken vs Paris Saint Germain Women's Champions League preview: Where to watch, line-ups

Häcken and Paris Saint-Germain meet in the UEFA Wonen's Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday 20 March at Hisingen Arena.

What do you need to know

It was once a given that Sweden would have at least one team among the quarter-finalists but Häcken are the first Damallesvenskan side to make it since the group stage was introduced in 2021/22. They did so impressively; Häcken knocked out Twente in round 2 (a year after losing at that stage to Paris) and despite having been denied the Swedish title on goal difference four days before the group stage started, they won their first two games against, and finished above, Paris FC and Real Madrid, as well as drawing away to Chelsea.

Paris Saint-Germain, in contrast, made a poor start to the group stage with losses at Ajax and at home to Bayern. But, in peril of missing out on the last eight for the first time since their European absence of 2017/18, Paris defeated Roma twice, beat Ajax and then got a dramatic 2-2 draw at Bayern that gave them first place in probably the strongest group under this format.

Häcken come into this game still in their league close season but the start of the Swedish Cup group stage has given them competitive action, though Elin Rubensson, who missed much of their European campaign so far injured, has been sold to Houston Dash. Stine Larsen is out while Anna Sandberg and Filippa Curmark are back in training and Matilda Nildén and Alice Bergström have been signed.

Paris showed their fighting spirit in their recent French Cup semi-final at Paris FC, Tabitha Chawinga equalising late before they won on penalties.

Form guide

Häcken
Last six competitive games: WWWDLD
Last match: Häcken 3-0 Växjö, 09/03, Swedish Cup group stage
Next match: Lidköping 1-7 Häcken, 16/03, Swedish Cup group stage
Where they stand: 2nd in Damallsvenskan (2023 season), Swedish Cup group stage

Paris Saint-Germain
Last six games: WWWWWD
Last match: Paris Saint-Germain 5-0 Saint-Étienne, 16/03, D1 Féminine
Where they stand: 2nd in D1 Féminine, French Cup final

Squad changes

Häcken
In: Matilda Nildén, Alice Bergström
Out: Marika Bergman-Lundin, Alexandra Hellekant, Molly Johansson, Stine Larsen, Elin Rubensson

Paris
In: Anaïs Ebayilin, Eva Gaetino, Oliwia Szperkowska
Out: Ana Vitória, Viola Calligaris, Nicole Payne, Océane Toussaint

Starting line-ups

Häcken: Falk; Kosola, Rybrink, Luik, Wijk; CUmark, Fossdalsá; Anvegård, Kafaji, Jusu Bah; Larisey

Paris: Kiedrzynek; Samoura, Gaetino, De Almeida, Karchaoui; Le Guilly, Groenen, Geyoro, Groenen; Baltimore, Albert; Chawinga

View from the camps

Mak Lind, Häcken coach: "We have tried to simulate training where our players will have the chance to be challenged in situations that we believe will arise in the match, to the point that we have called in academy players on the boys' side. They have to act as opponents and be a little difficult for our players. They needed to get the chance to play the match once before it is played for real. It has worked in an absolutely excellent way.

"As we have entered the Champions League, the tactical details have been even more important. We want to give the players reassurance that they recognise the situations. Then they can focus on playing football."

Jocelyn Prêcheur, Paris coach: "We're happy to be at this stage of the competition, and the squad is very much concentrated on this quarter-final. We know Häcken's qualities well; their group-stage campaign was remarkable. We're obviously expecting a tough game, but we're coming here with ambition, and we want to put in the best possible performance in the first leg to put ourselves in the best possible position for the second leg at the Parc des Princes, where we hope to have a lot of fans."

Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, Paris goalkeeper: "The aim is to win, as always. We want to extend our 19-game unbeaten run, but we know that it'll be very difficult to do so. We're ready for this challenge, though, and we know that the second leg will be at the Parc des Princes. We want to get to the semi-finals, so we'll put everything into this."

Where is the 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final being played?

San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao will stage the 2024 Women's Champions League final on Saturday 25 May at 18:00 CET.

The 50,000-plus capacity home of Bilbao's Athletic Club was built on the site of the old San Mamés, replacing the 100-year-old arena of the same name in 2013. Athletic Club women's team have played several games in the new stadium, attracting 48,121 fans for a 2019 cup tie against Atlético de Madrid, at the time a Spanish record.