Chelsea Women begin their UEFA Women’s Champions League league-phase campaign against Austria Wien Women on Wednesday night, with Sonia Bompastor’s side playing at Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane.$
The Blues arrive in strong shape. Chelsea have taken seven points from their first three WSL games, qualified with a 6-2 aggregate win over Real Sociedad and followed their 5-0 victory at Manchester United with a controlled 2-0 win over Birmingham City.
Austria Wien should not be dismissed simply because of the step up in class. Stefan Kenesei’s Austrian champions have scored 20 goals across their last five matches, beat Brann 4-0 to reach this stage and have Modesta Uka in outstanding European scoring form.
Still, Chelsea’s pace, pressure and depth should make this a long night for the visitors. Our prediction is 5-0, with Asian Over 4.0 Goals at odds of 2.00 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Asian Over 4.0 Goals
Market: Asian Total Goals
Correct Score Prediction: Chelsea Women 5-0 Austria Wien Women
Odds: 2.00
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Expected Goals: Over 3.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: No
📅 Date: 23 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane
🏆 Competition: UEFA Womens Champions League
Match Preview
Chelsea have started 2026/27 with the sort of control expected from a side built to challenge in Europe. They have scored eight goals in three WSL matches, conceded only once, and come into this game on the back of two convincing league wins. The 2-0 result against Birmingham was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests; Chelsea had 14 shots before half-time and spent most of the evening camped in the opposition half.
Bompastor wants her side to press high, recover the ball quickly and use the width created by Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze. Keira Walsh dictates the tempo from deeper areas, while Sjoeke Nüsken, Wieke Kaptein and Lexi Potter have all been prepared to get beyond the ball. That means Chelsea can attack with numbers rather than relying on one forward to solve every problem.
There is plenty of firepower too. Melvine Malard has made a sharp start after joining from Manchester United, scoring twice against Real Sociedad and adding another from the bench against Birmingham. Alyssa Thompson has offered direct running from wide areas, while Nüsken’s movement into the box gives Chelsea an extra threat. If Lauren James returns after missing the Birmingham squad, she would add another level of quality between the lines or as a central striker.
Austria Wien arrive as reigning Austrian champions and cup holders, and their domestic record this season deserves respect. They sit third in the Frauen-Bundesliga with 17 goals scored and only two conceded in six games, while their latest five-match run has brought four wins, one draw and 20 goals. Their 2-0 win over Blau-Weiß Linz on Saturday was settled by Uka and captain Carina Wenninger.
Kenesei has generally used a back three, with Wenninger, Katharina Schiechtl and Virginia Kirchberger-Prohaska forming the defensive core. The system allows the wing-backs to push on, while Lucia Orkić and Elisa Pfattner can support the front line. Uka is the obvious focal point after scoring six goals in four Champions League qualifiers, with Sandra Jakobsen, Almedina Šišić and Patricia Pfanner among the players able to support her.
The difficulty is that Austria have rarely faced pressure of Chelsea’s level. Their 4-0 home win over Brann showed they can be ruthless when a game opens up, but Chelsea will ask far more questions with their press, passing speed and movement out wide. Austria can carry a counter-attacking threat through Uka, but they may spend long spells defending their box.
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Why Asian Over 4.0 Goals Makes Sense
The straight Chelsea win will be very short, so the goals line is the more appealing route at 2.00. Chelsea have already hit five against both Real Sociedad and Manchester United this season, and their attacking approach is built around keeping teams pinned back until the openings come.
Over 4.0 on the Asian line needs five or more goals for a full win. If the match finishes with exactly four goals, the stake is returned. That protection matters in a game where Chelsea should dominate but Austria have shown they can defend well in domestic football.
Malard’s form is a major positive for this bet, while Walsh, Nüsken, Thompson, Carpenter and Bronze all give Chelsea different ways of creating chances. Chelsea do not need one player to have a huge night; their midfield runners and wide deliveries can stretch a back three that will be under constant pressure.
Austria have scored freely themselves, including eight at Traiskirchen and five at Südburgenland, but that attacking confidence could also lead them to take risks rather than simply sit in a low block for 90 minutes. If they commit wing-backs forward, Chelsea have the speed to punish the spaces left behind.
The obvious risk is Austria keeping the score to 3-0 or 4-0 through disciplined defending and goalkeeper Jasmin Pal producing an excellent European performance. Even then, the Asian line gives us a refund at four goals. From a betting point of view, that makes Asian Over 4.0 Goals at 2.00 a better choice than chasing a very short Chelsea match-winner price.
- ✓Chelsea Women have won eight of their last 10 competitive matches.
- ✓Chelsea have scored 26 goals across their last 10 competitive games.
- ✓Chelsea have scored five goals against Real Sociedad and Manchester United this season.
- ✓Austria Wien have scored 20 goals in their last five competitive matches.
- ✓Modesta Uka scored six goals in four UWCL qualifying matches.
- ✓Austria Wien have kept six clean sheets in their last 10 competitive matches.
- ✓This is the first competitive meeting between Chelsea Women and Austria Wien Women.
Team News
Chelsea have options to rotate after Saturday’s league win. Malard returned from her recent absence to score against Birmingham, while Naomi Girma was back among the substitutes and Nathalie Björn made a late appearance following a lengthy lay-off. Mayra Ramírez remains away for personal reasons.
Lauren James was not in the Birmingham matchday squad, although no reason was given, so her involvement is uncertain. Erin Cuthbert and Manaka Matsukubo have not appeared in Chelsea’s competitive squads this season. Bompastor can still call on a strong core of Hampton, Walsh, Carpenter, Bronze, Buchanan, Nüsken and Thompson.
Austria Wien have no confirmed new injury or suspension concerns from their latest league match. Wenninger, Schiechtl, Kirchberger-Prohaska, Orkić, Pfattner, Jakobsen, Šišić and Uka all featured in the 2-0 win over Blau-Weiß Linz. Pal is likely to return in goal after starting all four European qualifiers, while Hanshaw, Cordes, Pfanner and Schöffel are among the alternatives.
Possible Starting Lineups
Chelsea Women Possible XI
Hampton; Carpenter, Girma, Buchanan, Bronze; Walsh, Kaptein; Nüsken, Thompson, McCabe; Malard
Austria Wien Women Possible XI
Pal; Wenninger, Schiechtl, Kirchberger-Prohaska; Schöffel, Pfattner, Cordes, Hanshaw; Pötzl, Uka, Pfanner
Players to Watch
Melvine Malard — Chelsea Women
Malard has three competitive Chelsea goals already and made an instant impact from the bench against Birmingham. Her movement in the penalty area is well suited to a match where Chelsea should produce repeated crosses, cut-backs and second-ball chances.
Keira Walsh — Chelsea Women
Walsh will be central to breaking down Austria’s defensive block. Her passing can switch the play quickly and create the wide overloads that Chelsea use so effectively, while she also arrives here after scoring against Real Sociedad and Manchester United.
Modesta Uka — Austria Wien Women
Uka has been Austria’s star of qualifying, scoring six times in four European games including a hat-trick against Brann. Chelsea should have most of the ball, but Austria’s best route to a surprise goal is likely to involve getting Uka into space early.
Carina Wenninger — Austria Wien Women
Austria’s captain has scored in each of their last two league wins, but her main task will be organising a back three facing relentless pressure. Wenninger’s experience will be needed to keep the defensive line calm when Chelsea begin to overload the wide areas.
Head-to-Head
This is the first competitive meeting between Chelsea Women and Austria Wien Women. It is also Austria Wien’s first match against an English club, so there is no previous head-to-head trend to lean on.
Final Verdict
Chelsea should set the pace from the opening minutes. Bompastor’s side are in good form, have several players contributing goals and chance creation, and their high-pressure style can turn a controlled game into a heavy scoreline once the first goal arrives.
Austria Wien have earned their place in the league phase and Uka gives them a genuine outlet, but this is a substantial jump from the Austrian league and qualifying football. Their main hope is to stay compact, survive Chelsea’s early pressure and keep the score below the key total.
At 2.00, Asian Over 4.0 Goals is the best bet because Chelsea have the quality to score five, while exactly four goals returns the stake. The expected pattern is Chelsea possession, Austria defending deep and the home side creating a steady flow of chances. My correct-score prediction is Chelsea Women 5-0 Austria Wien Women.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Chelsea have made a convincing start under Bompastor and should have too much movement, pace and depth for Austria Wien over 90 minutes. The visitors are scoring freely at home, but this is a much tougher examination and the Asian total gives useful protection if Chelsea stop at four.
Best Bet: Asian Over 4.0 Goals
Odds: 2.00
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Correct Score: Chelsea Women 5-0 Austria Wien Women
