Manchester City

Image source, Reuters

Gareth Taylor admitted Manchester City’s first Champions League meeting with St Polten was an “eye-opener” ahead of their reverse fixture.

The sides previously met in October, where Mary Fowler’s 80th-minute header snatched three points for City to claim a 3-2 victory.

City have won all four of their Group D games to qualify for the quarter-finals, but Taylor warned that there are “no easy” Champions League games ahead of their penultimate group match.

Speaking about October’s encounter with St Polten, Taylor said: “I learned there are no easy games in the Champions League regardless of what you see previously on paper, particularly an away fixture like that was a bit of an eye-opener.

“There were a lot of learnings from that game, for sure. To be honest there were potentially too many changes in that game and had to get some personnel on to the pitch. We are a very young team, but we had an exceptionally young team that night, academy players playing in those types of games is a big ask.

“I was really impressed with the way the game returned, I remember Mary Fowler scoring in that game and again at the weekend, she’s starting to play some really good football at the moment.”

Image source, PA Media

Another absentee for Manchester City tonight is forward Vivianne Miedema, who has not played since the Champions League victory over Barcelona in October.

The Dutch international has since had surgery on her left knee and returned to training this week.

Boss Gareth Taylor is hopeful she can return to action in the new year.

"Viv is back out on pitch, which is great", Taylor said. "The reality of it is we won't see her in these next three games before we break, but we're looking forward to getting her back in early January for when we restart.

"That's a big boost for everyone. She's a top player and any team would miss having a player like that."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Joie Stadium

Manchester City's stars completed their warm-ups a short while ago, but Khadija Shaw was not among them.

The Jamaican striker scored twice in each of her last two games, but she is not in the squad this evening.

Her absence allows 18 year-old academy graduate Lily Murphy to make her full first-team debut. She only signed a contract with the first-team last week!

Image source, BBC Sport

That's all after Arsenal's win over Valerenga but there is more action to come. Let's turn our attention to Joie Stadium where Manchester City host Austrian side St Polten...

Alara Sehitler added a late fourth for Bayern Munich as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Juventus and that leaves the table looking like this.

It's Arsenal versus Bayern Munich next Wednesday and a Gunners win would take them through as group winners. Any other result and Bayern will win the section.

Two goals from Alessia Russo plus one from Frida Maanum give Arsenal the victory. Valerenga ended strongly and pulled one back late on from Tilde Lindwall but it's not enough to deny the Gunners a fully deserved win.

Image source, Getty Images

Linn Vickius shoots well wide for Valerenga from a dropping ball. Two minutes of injury time to go.

Tilde Lindwall has just scored one and is so, so close to a second. It bounces just wide from 18 yards out. That would've set up a frantic finish.

Arsenal have been in complete control almost all game but it is a bright ending from the hosts. Janni Thomsen then sees a shot deflected over the top for Valerenga.

One last change for Arsenal and it's a chance to impress for 19-year-old midfielder Freya Godfrey, replacing Kyra Cooney-Cross.

So close to a fourth. Frida Maanum releases Stina Blackstenius, she takes a touch and then fires at goal left footed.

Tove Enblom is nowhere near it but then gets saved by the left upright, with the ball then bouncing clear off the post.

Image source, Getty Images

Klara Buhl has made it 3-0 for Bayern Munich against Juventus so it is all set up for Arsenal v Bayern next Wednesday. The winner of that one gets top spot in Group C.

A rare shot for the hosts, but Manuela Zinsberger is equal to it, with a low catch.

Image source, Getty Images

Another change for Arsenal as off goes Mariona Caldentey and on comes Kathrine Moller Kuhl.

It's just one-way traffic and Frida Maanum almost gets her second, but can only send it wide after Lina Hurtig's pull-back.

Stina Blackstenius thinks she is through on goal, only to see Tove Enblom save the shot, with the ball dribbling wide. But the assistant's flag is raised so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Two substitutes almost combine for a fourth Arsenal goal. Lina Hurtig gets to the byeline down the left and her pull back is stabbed goalwards by Rosa Kafaji, only for the effort to be blocked.

Lina Hurtig almost makes an instant impact as she tries to lift a shot over Tove Enblom from a tight angle, but the goalkeeper had done well to close down the space and sticks up an arm to deny Arsenal a fourth goal.

A triple change for Arsenal and there will be no hat-trick tonight for Alessia Russo as she is one of the three to go off, along with Katie Reid and the excellent Caitlin Foord. On come Rosa Kafaji, Lina Hurtig and Laura Wienroither.

Arsenal want more goals. A corner from the right finds England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy and she heads at goal but Tove Enblom does well to leap up and catch the ball above her head.