Arsenal Women face one of their toughest assignments of the Women's Champions League league phase when they travel to Spotify Camp Nou to take on reigning European champions Barcelona on Thursday evening.

The Gunners arrive in Catalonia looking to build on their recent improvement, having collected seven points from their opening three European fixtures and won their last two competitive matches.

However, they will come up against a Barcelona side that have been in formidable form, with Pere Romeu's team looking to maintain their perfect start to this season's European campaign.

The fixture also provides a repeat of last season's Champions League final, when Arsenal produced a memorable performance to defeat the Catalan giants and lift the trophy.

Barcelona Women vs Arsenal Women: Recent form and key statistics

Barcelona have made an impressive start to their bid for another Women's Champions League title, winning their opening three league-phase fixtures by a combined scoreline of 19-2.

After victories over Paris FC and Roma, the Spanish champions produced another attacking masterclass against Køge, with Claudia Pina scoring twice in an emphatic 8-0 away victory.

Pere Romeu's side have carried that form into domestic action, recording a 4-0 win over Badalona before easing to a 5-1 victory against Madrid CFF.

Those results have helped Barcelona move four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of Liga F, while they have also extended their winning run to four matches since suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat against Real Sociedad on October 18.

Their home record makes particularly worrying reading for Arsenal, with Barcelona winning all six of their competitive matches at home this season and scoring at least five goals in five of those victories.

The Catalan giants have also won 33 of their 35 Women's Champions League home fixtures, drawing one and losing just once. They have won each of their last 11 European home matches, making Spotify Camp Nou an extremely difficult venue for visiting teams.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have experienced a less convincing domestic campaign under Renee Slegers, sitting sixth in the Barclays Women's Super League table after three wins, four draws and two defeats from their opening nine matches.

Their European performances have been more encouraging, however, with the Gunners collecting seven points from a possible nine.

Arsenal began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Køge, requiring a 93rd-minute penalty to secure all three points, before surrendering a lead in a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Paris FC.

They responded emphatically against Benfica, with Alessia Russo scoring a hat-trick in a commanding 3-0 victory. That performance also saw the England international become the leading English goalscorer in Women's Champions League history, reaching 23 goals.

Russo has continued to deliver in domestic competition, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa before netting twice in Sunday's 2-1 away victory over Liverpool.

The forward has now scored nine goals in Arsenal's last seven competitive matches, making her one of the visitors' biggest attacking threats heading into Thursday's encounter.

Arsenal will also take confidence from their most recent meeting with Barcelona, having beaten the Spanish side 1-0 in the 2024-25 Champions League final thanks to Stina Blackstenius's decisive goal.

Barcelona Women Women's Champions League form: W-W-W

Barcelona Women form (all competitions): W-L-W-W-W-W

Arsenal Women Women's Champions League form: W-D-W

Arsenal Women form (all competitions): L-D-W-W-D-W

Barcelona Women vs Arsenal Women: Head-to-head record and prediction

Despite Barcelona's impressive recent European record, Arsenal have enjoyed the better overall head-to-head record between the clubs.

The teams have met five times in competitive European fixtures, with the Gunners winning three and Barcelona claiming two victories. There have been no draws.

Their first meetings came in the 2012-13 Women's Champions League, when Arsenal recorded a 3-0 away victory before completing a 7-0 aggregate success with a 4-0 win in the return fixture.

Barcelona gained revenge during the 2021-22 group stage, winning 4-1 at home before recording a 4-0 victory in London.

However, Arsenal claimed the most important meeting between the sides in the 2024-25 final in Lisbon.

Blackstenius came off the bench to score the only goal of the game, securing Arsenal's second European title and ending Barcelona's hopes of retaining their crown.

The Gunners will now be hoping to repeat that performance, although their record in Spain offers a warning. Their September 2012 victory over Barcelona remains their only win in five away matches against Spanish opposition, with one draw and three defeats.

Barcelona Women vs Arsenal Women: Team news and injury updates

Barcelona boss Pere Romeu is expected to be without Laia Aleixandri, Kika Nazareth and Vicky Lopez, who remain sidelined through injury.

Kerolin has also been ruled out for around four weeks after picking up a calf problem.

Renee van Asten, Patri Guijarro and Aitana Bonmati could all return to the starting XI after beginning Sunday's victory over Madrid CFF on the bench.

As for Arsenal, Mariona Caldentey is expected to miss the reunion with her former club, while Selina Cerci, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang are also likely to be unavailable.

Stina Blackstenius and Chloe Kelly are doubts, while Taylor Hinds is an injury concern after being withdrawn during the closing stages of the victory over Liverpool.

Former Barcelona defender Ona Batlle could return to the squad after missing Sunday's match with a knock, potentially providing a timely boost for Slegers.

Barcelona Women vs Arsenal Women: Predicted line-ups

Barcelona Women (4-3-3): Coll; Schertenleib, Camara, Van Asten, Brugts; Serrajordi, Guijarro, Bonmati; Graham Hansen, Pina, Pajor.

Arsenal Women (4-2-3-1): Misa; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Stanway, Cooney-Cross; Baum, Smith, Foord; Russo.

Striver Prediction: Barcelona Women 3-1 Arsenal Women

Arsenal have already demonstrated that they can compete with Barcelona on the biggest European stage, and their recent attacking form means they should not be underestimated.

Russo's goalscoring record gives the visitors a genuine threat, while their previous final victory will provide confidence that they can trouble the reigning champions.

However, Barcelona's home record is difficult to ignore. Romeu's side have been ruthless in front of goal this season, winning all six competitive home matches and scoring freely against both domestic and European opposition.

The absence of several Arsenal players could also prove costly against a team with Barcelona's attacking depth.

We expect the Gunners to find the net, but the hosts' quality and formidable record at Spotify Camp Nou could ultimately prove decisive.

A 3-1 Barcelona victory is our prediction.