Chelsea kick off their Women's Champions League campaign on Wednesday night with a tricky away test against FC Twente, as the competition introduces its brand-new league phase format.
The Dutch champions are flying high at the moment, sitting comfortably atop the Vrouwen Eredivisie table, two points ahead of Ajax, after collecting maximum points from their first four matches. Their confidence will be sky-high, too, having cruised through qualification with an emphatic 8-1 aggregate triumph over GKS Katowice in the final round.
Of course, Chelsea know this opponent well — the Blues dismantled Twente 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in their previous UWCL meeting, a result that still echoes as one of their most dominant European displays.
Domestically, the hosts side are in familiar territory: top of the Women's Super League table, with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches. They hold a narrow one-point edge over Manchester City, whom they defeated on the opening weekend.
After storming to a domestic treble last season, Chelsea's next mountain to climb is clear, finally lifting that elusive Women's Champions League trophy. The Blues dropped just three games across all competitions last season, and there's every sense this could be their year to go one better in Europe.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
How to watch FC Twente vs Chelsea FC Women online - TV channels & live streams
 | Paramount+ | Watch here |
The match will be shown live on Paramount+ in the US. Live updates can be found here on GOAL.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
FC Twente vs Chelsea FC Women kick-off time
The match will be played at the Sportpark Schreurserve on Wednesday, with kick-off at 12:45 pm ET or 9:45 am BST for fans in the US.
Team news & squads
FC Twente vs Chelsea FC Women lineups
4-3-3
Formation
4-3-3
CHEFCT-Line up
FCTSubstitutes
Manager
C. Dekker
CHE-Line up
CHESubstitutes
Manager
S. Bompastor
Injuries and Suspended players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
FC Twente team news
FC Twente certainly aren't short on firepower, the Dutch outfit have been tearing through the Eredivisie with ruthless efficiency, averaging four goals per game to open their domestic campaign. That attacking edge will no doubt test Chelsea's backline in Wednesday's clash.
Adding even more intrigue to the tie is the homecoming of Jill Roord, one of the most seasoned players in the Women's Champions League. The 28-year-old Dutch midfielder has come full circle, returning to her roots in Enschede after successful spells with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City.
Roord, who bagged an impressive 57 goals in 100 appearances during her first stint with Twente between 2013 and 2017, brings a wealth of experience and a touch of class to this youthful, energetic squad. Her reunion with Arsenal later in the competition will certainly turn heads, but for now, her focus — and Twente's — is clear: proving they can hang with Europe’s best after years of falling short against the continent's elite since 2019.
Chelsea FC Women team news
The big headline off the pitch is Sjoeke Nusken's new contract, a well-earned reward for one of Chelsea’s most dynamic midfielders. The German international is expected to push for a starting spot after featuring off the bench in the recent clash with Manchester United.
Competition for places remains fierce, with Guro Reiten, Alyssa Thompson, and Sam Kerr also in contention to start. While there are no fresh injury setbacks, the Blues are still likely to be without Lucy Bronze, Lauren James, and Niamh Charles.
There was, however, a dose of optimism for fans last week, Lea Le Garrec Bompastor confirmed that all three have returned to training. Yet, with match fitness still a concern, the trio are unlikely to be risked in Wednesday's European opener.
Form
FCT-Form
FCTPSV
1
-
3
FC Twente
W
PEC Zwolle
1
-
4
FC Twente
W
FC Twente
6
-
0
NAC Breda
W
FC Twente
4
-
1
GKS Katowice
W
GKS Katowice
0
-
4
FC Twente
W
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 21/3
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 5/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
CHE-Form
CHEManchester United Women
1
-
1
Chelsea FC Women
D
West Ham United Women
0
-
4
Chelsea FC Women
W
Chelsea FC Women
1
-
0
Leicester City WFC
W
Aston Villa Women
1
-
3
Chelsea FC Women
W
Chelsea FC Women
2
-
1
Manchester City Women
W
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 11/3
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
Head-to-Head Record
FCTLast 2 matches
CHE0
Wins
0
Draws
2
Wins
Goals scored
9- Games over 2.5 goals
- 2/2
- Both teams scored
- 2/2