Matildas Abroad Preview: UWCL group stage continues; Derby delight in the Conti Cup

The UEFA Women's Champions League returns for matchday 3 of the group stage, with Aussies going head-to-head in Group B and D. While back in England a North London derby and a Merseyside derby is in store in the Conti Cup. 

Read a preview of the Matildas Abroad below. The UEFA Women's Champions League is streamed live and free on the DAZN YouTube Channel.

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UWCL

Group B

Ellie Carpenter's Lyon will take on Larissa Crummer's SK Brann, after two games they are yet to drop a point, among four teams to do so in the group stage so far. 

Lyon is off to a flying start in their domestic season, sitting at the top of the D1 table with 10 wins from 10 and are yet to experience defeat this season across all competitions. The eight-time UWCL Champions will be out to continue the record against Norway's Brann. 

Ellie Carpenter (12) from OL in action during the UEFA Women s Champions League game between Olympique Lyonnais and St Polten at Groupama Stadium in DÃ cines-Charpieu, France. (Pauline FIGUET / SPP)

Both teams are tied on points going into matchday 3, with this game an ultimate test for Crummer's side. 

Lyon v Brann
Date: Thursday 14 December
Time: 7:00am AEDT 
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Group C

Clare Hunt's Paris Saint-Germain are still in search of their first win of the UWCL group stage when they take ladder leaders Roma. Four games remain in the group stage, with PSG needing to pick up maximum points if they want any chance of advancing to the next stage.

The two-time finalists were in a similar position last season, only picking up one point in their opening two games but rallied to record three victories to end the group stage and advance to the quarter-finals. 

PSG v AS Roma
Date: Friday 15 December
Time: 7:00am AEDT 
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Group D

Group D is filled with Aussies, newly-capped Sarah Hunter's Paris FC will welcome Hayley Raso's Real Madrid, with Paris sitting at the bottom of the table with 0 points and Raso's Madrid on one point after a draw with Chelsea.

Both teams will be looking for all three points to keep themselves in contention for the quarter-finals. Paris FC stormed into the UWCL group stage, shocking Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the process and knocking out both former champions. 

Paris FC v Real Madrid
Date: Friday 15 December
Time: 4:45am AEDT 
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The other Group D fixture will see a top-of-the-table clash as Sam Kerr's Chelsea host Aivi Luik's BK Häcken, with the Swedish side travelling to London in top spot in the group after back-to-back victories.

Chelsea will be looking to prove themselves after their defeat to Arsenal over the weekend, looking to bounce back and move to the top of the Group D standings. Chelsea remains the only English team left in the competition after Arsenal and Manchester United were both knocked out in the qualifying stage.

Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates her goal in the 55th minute for a hat trick for 3-1.

Kerr's last outing in the UWCL saw her net a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge against Paris FC where she captained her side to victory, looking for a repeat when they return to the same stadium.

Chelsea v BK Häcken
Date: Friday 15 December
Time: 7:00am AEDT 
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Conti Cup

The Conti Cup returns in England, with Clare Wheeler’s Everton hosting Teagan Micah's Liverpool in a Merseyside derby. Both sides come into the fixture looking to pick up their first points of the group stage.

Liverpool have faced three defeats so far in the Conti Cup group stage and will play their final game in Group B, already eliminated. The Toffees have a game in hand, but need maximum points and hope the teams at the top of the table drop points.

Everton v Liverpool 
Date: Thursday 14 December
Time: 6:00am AEDT 
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Next up, a North London derby is in store as Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross' Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur, in the first clash of the season. 

Caitlin Foord of Arsenal celebrates her goal in the 29th minute for 0-2.

The Conti Cup defending champions sit in second place in the group standings, having recorded wins against Bristol City and Southampton. Spurs sits in first place with a better goal difference, with the Gunners looking to solidify their spot at the top.

Foord has made a habit of scoring against Spurs, having scored three braces against them. 

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Date: Thursday 14 December
Time: 6:00am AEDT 
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Last up, Courtney Nevin and Remy Siemsen’s Leicester City take on Manchester United, with the Foxes just one point behind United going into the penultimate game.

Leicester's qualification to the knockout stages is firmly in their hands should they pick up a positive result, after a win over Liverpool and a penalty shootout victory against United's rivals Manchester City.

Manchester United v Leicester City
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Date: Friday 15 December
Time: 6:00am AEDT 
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This article was originally published on the CommBank Matildas website.
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