Barcelona host Arsenal in Women's Champions League without Putellas and three other key stars

Four key players gone from the squad

Alexia Putellas left Barcelona in the summer to join London City Lionesses, a move that felt like the end of an era to the BBC. Mapi Leon followed her to Bromley, Ona Batlle joined Arsenal and Salma Paralluelo moved from Barcelona to Lyon. All four were central to the club's dominance and ended their time there with a quadruple, which included a fourth Champions League title last season. Esmee Brugts, a Barcelona player, told BBC Sport that every season brings change and that the club has a chance to write a new story.

“Every season is different. There are always changes but we know that's football.”

Brugts said she has been quite happy with how the season has gone so far and is looking forward to the upcoming games.

Team news and officials

The Guardian's live text has the lineups. Barcelona start with Coll, Camara, Paredes, Van Asten, Brugts, Serrajordi, Guijarro, Schertenleib, Hansen, Pajor and Pina. Arsenal line up with Misa, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Hinds, Stanway, Little, Baum, Maanum, Foord and Russo, with Ona Batlle named among the substitutes. Ivana Martincic from Croatia referees the match, and Fran Jovic, also from Croatia, is the VAR.

Form and head-to-head

The Guardian places Arsenal sixth in the WSL, with three wins from their nine league games this season. It puts Barcelona at nine wins from their last 10 games, and says they are averaging 6.34 goals a game in Europe this season and 4.62 in all competitions. Barcelona lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad a few weeks ago, a defeat the same account describes as their only one in the past 53 games. Arsenal have beaten Barcelona on three of the five occasions the sides have met in the Champions League.

Arsenal's approach

Arsenal coach Renée Slegers said her side knows how good Barcelona are on the ball and must be comfortable without it.

“We know how good they are on the ball. We know that we have to be comfortable without the ball as well.”

Slegers added that Arsenal will have to suffer, put bodies on the lines and be really disciplined. The Guardian's live text also says Pere Romeu, Barcelona's coach, has been generous in his praise of Arsenal. Brugts is looking forward to seeing how Barcelona perform in the games ahead.