Northern Ireland’s Lauren Wade ready for Champions League test with Wolfsburg

Wade will be part of the Glasgow City squad who will take on German champions Wolfsburg on Friday, August 21 at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian.

While this will be a first for the Coleraine woman, who joined the Scottish champions in the winter, City have played at this stage before.

It is slightly different this time around with games changed to single leg ties because of the coronavirus pandemic and Wade is relishing making her European debut for her new side.

“It’s going to be really exciting, it’s a quarter final of the Champions League,” she told the club website. “I don’t know how many players can say they are part of a club that is in the quarter finals of the Champions League, and against Wolfsburg you are challenging yourself against the best in the world and it is something you have to work hard for and just relish.”

Wade actually played against Glasgow City in a qualifying group stage game back in 2014.

City ran out 1-0 winners in Airdrie but it was an experience that Wade still remembers fondly.

“I remember all three games we played and in particular against City,” she said.

“They were the dominant side and won 1-0 and it was a good result even thought it was a loss.

“But at that point I was quite young so I was playing for Glentoran and looking up to certain players and it was a great experience.”

Wade has only been able to make one brief appearance for her new club due to the pandemic when she came off the bench in the league match against Celtic before the season was halted.

But she is looking forward to fighting for a place in the starting line-up once domestic football returns in October.

“I just want to try and challenge within the team and in the starting 11 and get a spot to be a regular in the team,” she said.

“I feel I can bring a lot to the team and I want to be playing and enjoying my football like any footballer would.”

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