Do the Wolves still manage to make a comeback?
VfL Wolfsburg women’s soccer squandered home advantage in the 2023 Champions League semifinals. However, despite a draw last week, the Wolves still have a realistic chance of reaching the final of this year’s Women’s CL. VfL has never lost a competitive match against the Gunners so far.
All the more surprising are the comparatively high odds on a VfL win. The best bookmakers are currently offering odds of up to 2.65 for an Arsenal vs Wolfsburg Ladies bet on the German Bundesliga side.
The first leg in Wolfsburg ended in a 2-2 draw – much to the displeasure of the Wolves. VfL coach Tommy Stroot’s team led 2-0 at one point, so the result in front of their home crowd was all the more disappointing.
The VfL women are nevertheless approaching the encounter in England with a broad chest. The Wolves have only lost two of 15 international matches against English teams so far, with both defeats coming against Chelsea. We therefore force a prediction on the German guests at Arsenal vs. Wolfsburg Damen.
Arsenal – statistics & current form
Arsenal WFC has never reached the final of the Women’s Champions League. So far, the best result in UEFA’s top flight has been the semi-finals, where the Gunners have now reached for the fourth time in their club’s history. After the draw in the first leg against VfL, the Londoners have realistic hopes of reaching the final for the first time.
Not only because the second leg will take place in England, but also because Arsenal WFC will benefit from huge support. More than 50,000 fans are expected at the home game against the Wolves. Head coach Jonas Eidevall’s team has not lost a competitive match at home since December 2022.
The home match against the VfL women, like the quarterfinal duel against the FCB women, will take place at Emirates Stadium in London. The Gunners are aiming for their ninth consecutive home win in the competition. If AWFC can win to reach the final, odds of up to 2.47 will be paid out on the Londoners for an Arsenal vs Wolfsburg Women bet.
Will AWFC thwart VfL’s offense?
In the first leg, Arsenal WFC fought back from a 2-0 deficit. After a slow start to the match, the supposed underdogs from London found their way back into the game and not only scored two goals to equalize, but also kept the Wolves’ offense in check after conceding early.
If the Londoners continue this on Monday night, there are realistic chances for AWFC to make it to the final. It would be the Gunners’ first win against the VfL women. In their five previous meetings, Arsenal WFC have failed miserably against Wolfsburg, picking up only a 0-2-3 record.
Two of the four goals scored by Arsenal WFC in five matches against VfL Women were scored last week. In contrast, there were just two goals for the London women in their four previous encounters.
Predicted Arsenal lineup:
Zinsberger – Maritz, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle – Leonhardsen, Wälti, Pelova – McCabe, Blackstenius, Catley
Last Arsenal games:
Women’s Champions League finals
- 23/04/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 2 Arsenal London
WSL
- 20/04/2023 – Manchester United Women 1 – 0 Arsenal London
- 02/04/2023 – Arsenal London 2 – 1 Manchester City Women
Women’s Champions League finals
- 30/03/2023 – Arsenal London 2 – 0 Bayern Munich
WSL
- 25/03/2023 – Tottenham Hotspur Women 1 – 5 Arsenal London
Wolfsburg Women – statistics & current form
The Wolfsburg women have not yet checked off the title in the top division. Although the VfL lost the home advantage in the first leg, there is still a good chance of reaching the final even after the high-scoring draw (2:2) just under a week ago. However, VfL coach Stroot’s team is under pressure to win.
PSG was already made to feel that the Bundesliga side should not be underestimated away from home in the previous round. The Wolves won 1:0 away from home against the French co-favorites for the CL title. In the second leg, therefore, a draw in front of a home crowd was enough to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League.
The 2013/14 season was the last time VfL Wolfsburg’s women’s soccer team won the Champions League title. The triumph just under nine years ago also meant defending the title for the Wolves. A year earlier, the title also went to VfL. Since then, the best result was the final of the CL, which the Wolves reached for the last time three years ago.
With or without Popp? – Mission still open
Although star player Popp was missing in the first leg, the Wolves’ offense didn’t deliver a bad performance. In the second leg, it is equally still unclear whether Alexandra Popp will be used against Arsenal WFC. Because of the short acclimatization period after her calf injury possibly only as a joker – if at all.
Nevertheless, the Wölfin squad has a promising lineup and even has the potential to win this year’s Champions League. A final against FC Barcelona, who beat Chelsea WFC last week, would also be a chance for revenge. Last year, after all, FCB Femení knocked VfL out of the semifinals.
Like Popp, Lena Lattwein has not played recently due to injury and will not be available this time either. The VfL Wolfsburg midfielder underwent shoulder surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.
Predicted lineup of Wolfsburg ladies:
Frohms – Rauch, Janssen, Hendrich, Wilms – Roord, Oberdorf – Jonsdottir, Huth, Brand – Pajor
Last matches of Wolfsburg ladies:
Women’s Champions League Final
- 23/04/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 2 Arsenal London
Women’s Bundesliga
- 19/04/2023 – MSV Duisburg 0 – 3 VfL Wolfsburg
- 02/04/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 8 – 0 Werder Bremen
Women’s Champions League finals
- 30/03/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 1 – 1 Paris Saint Germain
Women’s Bundesliga
- 25/03/2023 – Bayern Munich 1 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg
Arsenal – Wolfsburg Women Direct comparison / H2H balance
Arsenal WFC and VfL Wolfsburg meet for the sixth time overall on the international stage. The Wolves lead the direct comparison against the top club from London with a record of 3-2-0. In these five encounters, the VfL women scored a total of nine goals. On the other hand, VfL Wolfsburg have scored four times. Two of those four goals were conceded in the most recent encounter (2-2).
Arsenal – Wolfsburg Ladies Tip
The Wolfsburg women have already survived the acid test against PSG in the round before. In London, the VfL women are therefore just as likely to pull off a surprise, although Arsenal WFC should not be underestimated at the largely sold-out Emirates Stadium. So far, VfL has never lost a competitive match against the Gunners.
Encouraging, besides the H2h, is also the recent form curve in the away games of the Women’s Champions League. So far this season, the Wolves have won three of four away games in the top flight, posting a goal difference of 12:3. It’s quite possible that they’ll build on that against AWFC as well.
We don’t rule out a surprise for the VfL women and see value in the high odds on the Bundesliga side. Our Arsenal vs Wolfsburg Women tip targets the German guests at betting odds of 2.65. For this, we bet five out of ten possible units.
