On Wednesday, the Women’s Champions League kicks off at Leigh Sports Village in Manchester, where the Manchester United women’s team will face Norway’s Vålerenga. This match presents an interesting opportunity for betting on goals with appealing odds.
Match Preview
Manchester United is making its first appearance in the Women’s Champions League main draw. Established in 2018, the team has progressed significantly, moving from the qualifying stages to compete with top clubs in Europe. In the qualifiers, they eliminated PSV, Hammarby, and Brann, showing skill and confidence throughout.
In the English league, United has started well, remaining unbeaten in five matches and boasting a strong defense that has allowed just two goals—the best defensive record in the league. Under the guidance of Marc Skinner, the team appears well-rounded: the attacking trio of Toone, Miyazawa, and Terland can challenge any defense, while the defense, led by Le Tissier and Bloodworth, plays cohesively. The only player missing is midfielder Leah Galton, but the team’s depth helps cover her absence.
Vålerenga enters this match in excellent form, having won ten consecutive matches across all competitions. They have experience in this stage, having participated last year but finishing last in a group with Arsenal, Bayern, and Juventus. That experience has helped them develop maturity and practicality. To qualify for the current group stage, Vålerenga dominated Ferencváros and Slavia, scoring ten goals over four matches.
Nils Lexerød’s team has been effective in front of goal, scoring in 20 straight games, with star forward Elise Thorsnes performing exceptionally, scoring three goals and providing an assist in the latest league match. However, Vålerenga has historically struggled in away games—last season in Europe, they lost all three away matches, conceding ten goals while scoring just one.
Probable Lineups
- Manchester United (W): Tullis-Joyce; Sandberg, Bloodworth, Le Tissier, Riviere; Miyazawa; Rolfö, Toone, Zigiotti Olme, Park; Terland
- Vålerenga (W): Enblom; Hørte, Kovacs, Pettersen; Brekken, Wikkius, Tennebø, Heiðarsdóttir; Hegg, Sevik, Tvedten
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Manchester United is unbeaten in their last five matches.
- Vålerenga has scored in their last 20 games.
- All three of Vålerenga’s away matches in the previous season’s Champions League resulted in defeats, with a total score of 1-10.
Prediction
Manchester United heads into their Champions League debut in strong form with a capable squad. While Vålerenga is on a winning streak, their recent opponents have been less challenging, making it unlikely they can handle the pressure from the English team. A high-scoring match seems improbable, and our recommendation is for “Under 3.5 goals” at odds of 1.73.