Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Women's Champions League match.
The draw for the group stage of the Women's Champions League has placed Hammarby and St. Pölten in challenging fixtures alongside clear favourites. It seems that the Swedish and Austrian teams will be battling it out for third place, as the top two spots are expected to go to Barcelona and Manchester City.
Hammarby (women)
In the European cup qualifiers, Hammarby showcased their strength, which is why bookmakers have tipped them as potential winners of this encounter. The Scandinavian club overcame the threat posed by Benfica (3:2 on aggregate), securing a clean 2:0 victory in Lisbon. In their domestic league, they trailed Häcken and Rosengård but boasted the second-best goal record with 51 goals over 22 rounds. In the Champions League, the team is likely to continue their goal-scoring prowess.
St. Pölten (women)
In the last campaign, St. Pölten went unbeaten domestically, finishing 10 points clear of second place. However, in the Champions League group stage, they conceded a total of 14 goals against Slavia Prague, Brann, and Lyon. Clearly, in the recent European cup qualifiers, they were fortunate with opponents who could not challenge the more prepared team. In Sweden, St. Pölten will face their first significant test of the season, which they are unlikely to overcome.
Hammarby (women) vs St. Pölten (women) Prediction
At the Stockholm stadium, Hammarby will have the support they need to build a quick lead. St. Pölten are expected to struggle once again in the final stages of the Champions League.
