Big names seek comebacks to reach last 16
Monday, October 3, 2011
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While 2011 finalists Olympique Lyonnais and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam hold big leads going into this week's round of 32 second legs, 1. FFC Frankfurt and FC Malmö must come from behind.
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Last season's UEFA Women's Champions League finalists Olympique Lyonnais and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam hold big leads going into this week's round of 32 second legs, but three-time winners 1. FFC Frankfurt and Swedish title holders FC Malmö must come from behind in their ties.
In last week's first legs, holders Lyon won 9-0 at CFF Olimpia Cluj while twice champions Potsdam prevailed 6-0 against newcomers Thór/KA in Iceland. Those returns on Wednesday may be a formality, but it is not so for Frankfurt, who must overturn a 1-0 deficit to Norwegian debutants Stabæk FK. Similarly, Malmö are 2-1 down as they welcome another team new to Europe, Italy's UPC Tavagnacco, on Thursday.
Only in one other tie is the side at home in the second leg behind, with Austrian team SV Neulengbach 2-1 down to CSHVSM, with the winners to play either Malmö or Tavagnacco in November's round of 16, for which the draw is made. Three ties are level, including the one that will likely decide who meets Lyon, as Apollon Limassol LFC travel to AC Sparta Praha on Wednesday with the score at 2-2.
Another of those encounters concludes on Thursday, with Valur Reykjavík welcoming Glasgow City LFC at 1-1, and Potsdam the expected last 16 opposition. Among other Thursday games, 2007 winners Arsenal LFC will set up a rematch of last year's thriller against Rayo Vallecano de Madrid if they Gunners do not squander a 4-0 lead at home to FC Bobruichanka and the Spanish side make the most of their 4-1 advantage over PK-35 Vantaa.
