Ends Wolfsburg CL mission already in the qualification?

Unlike in the men’s competition, where 32 teams are in the group stage, only 16 teams in the women’s competition will have the chance to breathe the air in the most important international club competition. This decimated field means that even last year’s finalist and reigning Bundesliga runner-up will have to qualify for the main competition first.

The Wolves already had to experience first-hand how complicated this undertaking can be in the previous week. In the first leg in the French capital, Lena Oberdorf and Co. had to settle for a 3-3 draw, which brings plenty of excitement and drama for the return match on Wednesday evening. Despite the qualitative advantages on VfL’s side, the second encounter is unlikely to be a foregone conclusion either. In any case, between Wolfsburg and the Paris FC women, the tip on a sovereign and possibly clear home victory is to be taken with a grain of salt.

It’s not for nothing that the ladies from the city of love have played a great season so far, are still unbeaten in the domestic top flight and have already eliminated a top-class team in the first qualifying round. Nevertheless, it takes a certain amount of courage to make a prediction on the underdog in the Wolfsburg vs. Paris FC women’s match on Wednesday evening. It would be a big surprise and at the same time a huge disappointment should the Green-Whites fail to make it to the group stage.

Wolfsburg – statistics & current form

Since 2012/13, the women of VfL Wolfsburg are permanent guests in the Champions League. In their first two participations, the Green-Whites were able to bring the coveted title to Lower Saxony. In the past ten years, the multiple German champions have reached the final of the trophy four (!) more times, but have always lost out. This was also the case in the previous season, when they had to congratulate FC Barcelona (2:3) after the final whistle despite leading 2:0.

After the disappointment of around three months ago, head coach Tommy Stroot’s team has now relaunched its mission to win a third CL title. However, the impressions from the playoff first leg at Paris FC, which ended in a 3-3 draw, underscore the fact that the traditionally ambitious goal will not only be put to the test on Wednesday evening, but that the European adventure could come to an abrupt end. Alexandra Popp equalized with her second goal just before the end.

Wolfsburg must stop the individual slip-ups

With a view to the second leg, the Wolfsburg women will have to improve in all respects and, at best, put in a similarly concentrated performance to their last outing at league level. With a maximum of twelve points after four games, the VfL currently leads the Women’s Bundesliga standings. Three of the four victories have come with a clean sheet. However, ten goals scored already underline the offensive power that Ewa Pajor, Alex Popp and Co. bring with them.

The fact that none of the five international home games were lost in the preseason also gives hope for a positive result in the return match. The last defeat in front of their own fans in the Champions League was on November 18, 2021. In the Bundesliga, the Green-Whites even have six wins in a row. The home strength coupled with the quality and experience advantages lead us to play the odds on a handicap home win between Wolfsburg and Paris FC Women.

Paris FC – Statistics & current form

For many years, Paris St. Germain has provided the best women’s football side in the City of Love. Recently, however, Paris Football Club Féminines, a team prepared to spit in the soup of the great adversary and city rival. In terms of the quality of the squad, the internationality of the players, and the expectations at national and European level, the two clubs are still worlds apart, but Paris FC has definitely made it to the top.

Last season, the club, which last appeared in the main draw of the Champions League in 2012/13 when it sensationally reached the semifinals, finished third in the league behind top teams Paris St. Germain and Olympique Lyon. This great placing in one of Europe’s strongest divisions meant that coach Sandrine Soubeyrand’s team was able to play their part in the first qualifying round.

After Arsenal, will Paris shock Wolfsburg?

At the small four-team tournament in Linköping, Sweden, Paris first beat Kryvbas 4-0 before eliminating last year’s CL semifinalists Arsenal on penalties in the final. At the latest after this sensational performance against the star ensemble from London, the French women can no longer be underestimated.

However, because the bottom line is that they still lack experience at the highest European level and the defense in particular is prone to individual lapses here and there, we are waiving the odds in the direction of a surprise coup between Wolfsburg and the Paris FC women. However, the underdogs can definitely be expected to score, especially since they have also made a good start to the national league season with twelve points from four games.

Wolfsburg – Paris FC Direct comparison / H2H balance

The first leg a week ago was the first and so far only meeting between these two teams. Despite an early goal by Vivien Endemann, the Wolves were not able to take control of the match and were trailing 1:2 and 2:3. Alexandra Popp and her own goalkeeper were ultimately to thank for the fact that the match ended 3:3. The Parisians’ fast outfield players in particular gave VfL a headache. That was not to change in the second leg on Wednesday in the Autostadt.

Wolfsburg – Paris FC Tip

At a very early stage this season, a first goal of the season is already on the line for the ladies of VfL Wolfsburg. In the crucial qualifying round for the 16-team UEFA Women’s Champions League main draw, the German runners-up will take on the outsiders from Paris, who, however, gave the Stroot eleven all they could handle in the first leg, drawing 3-3.

So caution is definitely called for ahead of Wednesday night’s second leg. Nevertheless, due to the higher individual quality and the greater wealth of experience at this level between Wolfsburg and Paris FC, the betting odds are quite clearly in the direction of Alexandra Popp and Co. We agree with this assessment and recommend a bet on the home victory. If you want to take even more of a risk, you can also consider the -1 handicap, especially since the guests would have to break down their own defense at some point in the event of a deficit.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable to bet on at least three goals in the second leg between Wolfsburg and Paris FC. Both teams had big problems defensively in the first leg. The young French women only know the way forward, which is why we would not be surprised if more than three goals shine from the scoreboard after the regular playing time. For this, Interwetten offers an appealing top odds of 1.70. However, our main tip remains the handicap (-1) at top odds of 2.05.