St. Pölten and Chelsea faced off in a crucial Women's Champions League match on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the NÖ Arena in St. Pölten. Both teams were eager for a significant result as the competition reaches its midpoint.
Background
St. Pölten, the Austrian champions, were still searching for their first points in the competition. They have had a difficult start to the League Phase, suffering heavy defeats in their opening two games against Atlético Madrid (6-0) and Lyon (3-0). Adding to their challenges, the club recently underwent a coaching change, with Laurent Fassotte replacing Lisa Alzner on October 23. Sporting director Tanja Schulte indicated that the club needed "to take the next steps in our development".
Chelsea, under the guidance of Sonia Bompastor, entered the match unbeaten and in strong form. They are aiming to secure one of the top four automatic qualification spots for the quarter-finals. Chelsea had a frustrating 1-1 draw in their opening game against FC Twente but bounced back with a 4-0 victory against Paris FC at Stamford Bridge.
Team News
St. Pölten: Coach Laurent Fassotte acknowledged the difficulty of the task, stating, "We know that Chelsea are a very experienced team with speed, pace and individual quality. It will be a difficult task, but we will fight for 90 minutes". He stressed the importance of focus and concentration throughout the match.
Chelsea: Sonia Bompastor made five changes to the Chelsea side that drew 1-1 with Arsenal. Sam Kerr made her first start since returning from a long layoff. Millie Bright was rested, with Naomi Girma taking her place in the starting XI, and Keira Walsh wore the captain's armband. Hannah Hampton did not travel to Austria due to a calf injury sustained against Arsenal. Lauren James was in contention to make her first appearance of the season. The confirmed Chelsea lineup was: Peng, Carpenter, Bronze, Girma, Baltimore, Rytting Kaneryd, Walsh, Kaptein, Thompson, Macario, Kerr.
Match Details
The match kicked off at 21:00 CEST.
Chelsea is aiming for their first Champions League title, and after domestic dominance, they are keen to replicate this success in Europe.
