Women's Champions League: Arsenal vs Vålerenga facts

Arsenal and Vålerenga meet in London with both looking to bounce back from Matchday 1 defeats in Group C of the 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League.

Arsenal were beaten 5-2 at Bayern München in their opening fixture on 9 October while Vålerenga's group debut ended in a 0-1 defeat by Juventus in Oslo.

Form guide

Arsenal

Record vs Norwegian clubs W1 D0 L0 F1 A0
Home record vs Norwegian clubs W1 D0 L0

Arsenal's only previous meeting with a Norwegian side came in round 1 this season, Frida Maanum scoring the only goal of a 1-0 final victory at home to Rosenborg on 7 September.

In an action-packed Matchday 1 meeting with Bayern, Arsenal led through Mariona Caldentey (30) and Laia Codina Panedas (65) made it 2-2, but three Pernille Harder goals in 14 minutes inspired Bayern to victory.

Arsenal were crowned champions of Europe in 2006/07 when they defeated Umeå in a two-legged final. Alex Scott's swerving effort from distance in the final moments of the first leg in Sweden was the only goal across both games.

The Gunners remain the only English club to win the competition. In addition to their 2007 triumph, they have reached the semi-finals on a further six occasions.

This is Arsenal's 17th participation in the Women's Champions League; they are in the group stage for a third time having missed out last season.

Their 2024/25 Women's Champions League journey began with a 6-0 win over Rangers on 4 September at Meadow Park, Caitlin Foord scoring four, before they beat Rosenborg 1-0 in the round 1 final at the same venue three days later. In round 2, the Gunners lost 0-1 in the first leg away to Swedish side BK Häcken, but a 4-0 home victory in the second leg sent them into the group stage.

Arsenal finished third in the Women's Super League last season, five points behind both Manchester City and champions Chelsea, but Jonas Eidevall did lead them to a second consecutive FA Women's League Cup title.

Vålerenga

Arsenal are the first English side Vålerenga have faced in European competition.

Their group debut this season ended in a 0-1 home defeat by Juventus.

The Norwegian side's Women's Champions League debut in 2020/21 was ended on penalties by Brøndby in the round of 32 after the match in Denmark had ended 1-1. The following season, they reached round 2 before being eliminated by fellow Scandinavian outfit BK Häcken 3-6 on aggregate (1-3 h, 2-3 a).

Vålerenga again reached round 2 last season, firstly beating Minsk 3-1 and then edging past Celtic in dramatic fashion (2-2, 11-10 pens) after Elise Thorsnes' 123rd-minute spot kick had taken the game to penalties.

Their run was ended by Real Madrid in round 2, Vålerenga going down 1-5 on aggregate (1-2 a, 0-3 h).

Before losing on Matchday 1, Nils Lexerød's side had won their previous three matches in the competition this season, beginning with a 3-1 triumph over Farul Constanța on 7 September.

That set up a round 2 meeting with Anderlecht. Quick-fire goals from Michaela Kovacs (14) – who was later sent off – and Karina Sævik (16) earned a 2-1 win in Brussels on 18 September before Thea Bjelde (70), Janni Thomsen (75) and Sævik again (81) scored in a 3-0 second-leg win in Oslo a week later.

Vålerenga won their second Norwegian Toppserien title in 2023 by a single point, and are again top of the table in the current league campaign.

They have won their last 11 competitive away games, the last defeat a 2-0 league loss at Lyn on 8 June.

Key facts

English teams have won five of their six Champions League matches against Norwegian teams.

Arsenal have won four of their previous six home group games (L2) and have lost only two of their last ten home matches in the competition overall (W6 D2).

The Gunners have won all three of their home matches in this season's competition without conceding a goal.

Vålerenga have lost only two of their previous nine Champions League matches outside Norway (W5 D1).