It is only the second competitive match of the year for the VfL Wolfsburg women – and it is an international one at that: after the weather-related postponements in the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga in Jena and Bremen, the She-Wolves welcome Juventus FC in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League play-offs at the AOK Stadion on Thursday (kick-off 18:45 CET/live on Disney+). The aim for the VfL women is to secure a strong position ahead of the return leg, which will take place exactly one week later in Turin.
Italians in top form
Juventus FC travel to Wolfsburg in excellent form: the Turin side have been back in competitive action since mid-January and have played six matches in that time, remaining unbeaten in five of them. Their only defeat of the new year came in a 2-1 loss to Inter Milan in their opener. In the Italian league, Juventus currently sit third in the table behind Inter and AS Roma. They are also enjoying success in the cup competition: two victories against Napoli (home and away) have secured their place in the semi-finals. In the league phase of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Juventus finished eighth, edging ahead of the She-Wolves by a single point to claim home advantage for the second leg of the play-offs.
Reunion with former club
Due to the weather-related postponements in Jena and Bremen, the VfL women are set to play only their second competitive match of the year: Stephan Lerch’s side opened with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against 1. FC Köln. Aside from that, the focus has been on intensive training sessions aimed at simulating match-like conditions as closely as possible. The She-Wolves have faced Juventus FC only twice before – and those meetings date back several years: in 2021, the Green-and-Whites secured a 2-2 draw in Turin during the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage, but suffered a 2-0 defeat in the return leg. One She-Wolf knows Juventus particularly well: Lineth Beerensteyn joined the VfL Wolfsburg women in summer 2024 after two years in Turin and now faces her former teammates. “I played with some of them and know what they’re capable of. But in the end, it’s not about one individual player – Juventus are a very strong team,” said the Netherlands international in the current interview.
Matchday tickets available
Last-minute tickets are still available, either in the Wölfeshop or at the ticket offices, which open at 17:15. Smoking is prohibited in all seated areas, including e-cigarettes (standing areas excluded). Please note: the stadium café “Cups & Coffee” will remain closed on matchday.
Ahead of the Champions League match, VfL head coach Stephan Lerch spoke about…
…the squad: Camilla Küver suffered a minor knee injury in the match against Köln and will be unavailable tomorrow and at the weekend. Janou Levels, Cora Zicai and Smilla Vallotto are currently training individually and working to gradually increase their workload.
…the lack of match rhythm: You can argue it both ways. We’ve only played one competitive match so far – on the one hand, that can mean not everything is fully in sync yet. On the other hand, it also brings a certain freshness and hunger. We’re happy that things are properly getting underway again. Juventus are certainly in rhythm after their recent matches. Still, I’m convinced it won’t affect us decisively. We’ve tried to simulate a high level of match intensity in training. Now it’s about embracing that – especially with a demanding schedule ahead of us.
…the approach in the clash with Juventus: Against a team of this calibre, solid defensive work is essential – I certainly wouldn’t mind keeping a clean sheet. Ultimately, though, what matters is progressing over the two legs. Individual results are secondary at first. Ideally, we want to win both matches and advance on merit.
…changes to the starting line-up: Adjustments to the starting XI are always a challenge. At the same time, we have many options and players who can fulfil different roles. The team is working very well, which doesn’t necessarily make decisions easier for the coaching staff. When there are absences, the squad has to pull even closer together – and the team has already shown that impressively several times this season.
Ahead of the Champions League match, Sarai Linder spoke about…
…the current training conditions and postponed matches: The training conditions are currently very good; we’re able to work intensively in all weather. The short-notice postponement was also communicated well, allowing us to react in time and make the best of the situation to stay focused.
…the upcoming matches and objectives: We want to win both games. Especially at home, with our fans behind us, we want to deliver a positive performance. The tension is always the same, no matter the match. A knockout game probably brings a bit more excitement, but we look forward to matches like these – that’s what you play football for.
…her role on the pitch: I normally play on the right and have featured there in recent matches. But I also have plenty of experience on the left, both feet work well, and the defensive responsibilities remain the same.
…the reunion with her former teammate: I’m really looking forward to seeing Paulina Krumbiegel again and to playing against former teammates – it’s always nice to meet players you’ve worked with for a long time.
