Five seasons after Arsenal battered HB Koge 8-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Women's Champions League, the Danes get their chance for revenge on Matchday 1 of this year's tournament.
Koge, who eased past Hearts and PSV Eindhoven in qualifying, will arrive in Boreham Wood with a burgeoning reputation as Denmark's top team.
And they should also be encouraged that Arsenal, two-time European champions and semi-finalists last term, have been misfiring at the start of this season.
Arsenal Women v HB Koge Tips Summary
Best Bet - Result/Goals Range - Arsenal/1-4 @ 4/7
Alternative Bet - Georgia Stanway To Score @ 5/4
Bet Builder - Over 10 Corners, HT Correct Score - Arsenal 1-0, Arsenal To Score in Both Halves @ 23/4
Arsenal Women v HB Koge Prediction
Best Bet - Result/Goals Range - Arsenal/1-4 @ 4/7
HB Koge, one of many rising European clubs looking to make an impact at the highest level, may not have the skill set to beat Arsenal at Meadow Park in this UEFA Women's Champions League opener, but they can stay competitive.
The Danish champions, currently looking nicely on course to defend their national crown, have seen off Riga, Hearts and, best of all, PSV Eindhoven to reach the league phase.
This is a step up in class, though Arsenal are definitely not at their best.
Renee Slegers' side are really struggling to break down disciplined teams and have managed just two goals in three WSL games: a 1-0 win at Brighton and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. They also drew 0-0 with Palace.
That's the template for Koge - sit deep and compact and frustrate the two-time champs.
Arsenal won 3-0 when they last played Koge in London in this competition in 2021/22, and everything still points to a handy home triumph.
The Danes are a very different side now and can keep the score down. Take Arsenal to win in a match featuring between 1-4 goals.
Alternative Bet - Georgia Stanway To Score @ 5/4
Georgia Stanway has made a career of contributing useful goals from midfield and right now that skill is one Arsenal could use.
Compact, deep-sitting defences are doing a good job of negating some of Slegers' attacking gems, so arriving from midfield is a handy knack to have.
Stanway has unloaded five shots in Arsenal's last two games, so clearly has her eye in. She is well worth chancing to find the net.
Arsenal Women v HB Koge Bet Builder Tip
Over 10 Corners
HT Correct Score - Arsenal 1-0
Arsenal To Score in Both Halves
Pays 23/4
Arsenal have won 39 corners in three WSL matches this season, so all three of their games have produced over 9.5 corners.
Given Arsenal want a bright start and need to impress after a pair of modest draws, expect their intensity to help them deliver over 10 corners.
Make that the first leg of the Bet Builder, followed by a Correct Half-Time Score bet of 1-0.
Koge are a decent team, the best in Denmark, and will be difficult to break down.
This is a game of damage limitation for Koge, who will be looking for their wins elsewhere. Home nerves after a slow start to the season, however, might well see Arsenal happy to just be ahead at the break.
Make a 1-0 Half-Time Correct Score leg two of the bet.
Presuming Arsenal score in the first period, that should open the game up as well as instilling confidence into the Londoners. In which case they should be able to notch again in the second period.
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Key Match Stats
Arsenal are already off the pace in the WSL after just three rounds of matches, following a 1-0 win at Brighton with back-to-back home draws against Crystal Palace (0-0) and Manchester United (1-1)
Koge Women, the Danish champions, are top of the A-Liga on 21 points from eight games with seven wins and a solitary defeat
Arsenal are unbeaten in seven matches since the 3-1 loss at Lyon in the semi-finals of last season's UEFA Women's Champions League
Koge have played 13 matches in all competitions this season, winning 11 with just the one loss. In the UEFA Women's Champions League they have beaten Riga (4-1) and Hearts (2-1) before pipping PSV 2-1 on aggregate in the play-off round
Arsenal's Alessia Russo has 19 goals in the UEFA Women's Champions League, making her the second-highest-scoring Englishwoman in the competition
Koge's top scorer this season is Nadia Nadim on seven followed by Kyra Carusa (5)
The Danes have scored in each of their last 10 European fixtures
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
