Juventus Women discover UWCL group stage opponents

Having completed the qualifying phase by eliminating Racing FC Union Luxembourg, Kiryay Gat and lastly Køge, Juventus Women made it to the UEFA Women's Champions League.

For the second successive season the Bianconere are included among the best sixteen teams in Europe and today's draw in Nyon put the Bianconeri in Group C with Lyon, Arsenal and Zurich.

STEFANO BRAGHIN, HEAD OF JUVENTUS WOMEN

"Also this year we expect a very complicated group seeing that it includes the defending champions, who are also the number one ranked team in UEFA women's football, and the leaders of the Premier League - those two sides are the favorites to qualify. We and Zurich, who are the champions of Switzerland, a quality league, are the outsiders in this group. Our goal this season, as was stated several times, was to reach the group stage again so as to enjoy this experience once more.

"Having reached that objective, now we have to do our best to move forward and try to do something more even if, honestly speaking, the odds are not on our side. There will still be some great matches to play, three games that will measure just how far we have come. The important thing for me will be not to have any regrets after the last game of this group stage in the knowledge that we have done our best and have shown all our worth. Then we'll see if this was enough to reach the next round."

THE OPPONENTS

• Lyon reached the final for a record 10th time last season, dethroning Barcelona as European champions as they claimed an eighth title - another record.
• Arsenal are one of the teams to have already won UWCL in the past, in 2006/07, and have reached the quarter-finals a record 14 times in as many attempts.
• In Europe only Sparta Prague with 33 league titles and Mašinac Niš with 25 have won their respective national women's championship more than Zurich.

DATES AND TIMES

• Matchday 1: Zurich - Juventus | 19 October 18:45 | Stadion Schaffhausen
• Matchday 2: Juventus - Lyon | 27 October 18:45 | Allianz Stadium
• Matchday 3: Juventus - Arsenal | November 24 21:00 | Allianz Stadium
• Matchday 4: Arsenal - Juventus | 7 December 21:00 | Emirates Stadium
• Matchday 5: Juventus - Zurich | 15 December 18:45 | Allianz Stadium
• Matchday 6: Lyon - Juventus | 21 December 18:45 | OL Stadium

THE DRAW IN FULL

THE GROUP STAGE LAST SEASON

There were some unforgettable evenings last year. The journey began away to Servette. The 3-0 win was secured by Caruso, Hurtig and Cernoia.

Then the first home game, in the splendid setting of the Allianz Stadium. Although the Bianconere were defeated 2-1 by Chelsea, the match provided an important lesson.

Having gained increased awareness, Juve grabbed a last second 2-2 draw at home with Wolfsburg through a Girelli double, which paved the way for a 2-0 success away to the German outfit thanks to an own goal by Hendrich and Staskova. A victory that ultimately proved decisive.

Completing the journey, first a precious goalless draw at Chelsea and the closing 4-0 win over Servette at home with goals from Hurtig, two goals from Girelli and Bonfantini.