Chelsea’s Macario to Miss UEFA Women’s Champions League Clash Against Twente

Chelsea‘s squad will be without forward Catarina Macario for their UEFA Women’s Champions League fixture against Twente on Thursday night. The United States international, who recently returned from a prolonged injury absence, has not made the trip to the Netherlands as she continues to work on her fitness. The 25-year-old is being eased back into competitive action after being sidelined for 20 months due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained in June 2022.

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed that Macario was refraining from participating in the match at Grolsch Veste and emphasized the plan to integrate her gradually into the team’s dynamics. “With Catarina, we are building some minutes and building her fitness,” stated Bompastor. “We work individually with every player and try to give them what they need to be fit and at their best level. We felt it was a good decision to have her in London working individually with some staff.” Bompastor expressed confidence that Macario would be ready for Sunday’s London derby against Tottenham at Kingsmeadow.

As both Chelsea and Twente secured victories in their respective Women’s Champions League group stage openers last week, Thursday’s fixture is anticipated to be a closely contested encounter. Chelsea emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Real Madrid, while Twente secured a 2-0 win against Celtic.

Chelsea, who have yet to capture a UEFA Women’s Champions League title in their history, are aiming for a more consistent performance in Enschede following their tighter-than-expected victory over Real Madrid. “From one game to another, we want the performance to improve,” Bompastor noted. “Coming from the Madrid game, I want my team to be dominant and to have more consistency in the performance.”

Team announcements show that Twente will field a strong lineup, featuring Danique van Ginkel as captain. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s squad sees some notable absences from the starting eleven, with stars such as Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze benched. Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan remarked on the team’s evolving dynamics, highlighting her partnership with Lucy Bronze and their adaptation process under the new coaching style.

In other Women’s Champions League matches featuring English clubs, Arsenal secured a convincing 4-1 victory against Vålerenga, while Manchester City overcame a challenge to win 3-2 against St. Pölten.