With four games completed, only two remain.
The inaugural league phase of the Women’s Champions League is reaching an exciting conclusion as teams vie for spots in the knockout stage.
Defending champions Barcelona lead the charge, closely followed by record eight-time titleholders Lyon. Meanwhile, it’s a promising debut for Manchester United, who currently head the trio of Women’s Super League clubs participating.
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The top four teams will secure automatic spots in the quarter-finals, while teams placed fifth to twelfth will compete in two-legged play-offs to earn a place in the next round.
BBC Sport reviews the progress of the three English clubs in this European campaign and outlines what they need to do to advance.
Arsenal
Alessia Russo scored twice, leading Arsenal to a comeback victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday [Getty Images]
Arsenal has encountered challenges in this year’s Champions League, with performances not meeting the heightened expectations following their celebrated victory over Barcelona in last year’s final.
After losing to Lyon in their opening match and facing a significant defeat against Bayern Munich, Arsenal managed a narrow away win over Benfica, followed by a dramatic inspired comeback with Alessia Russo’s efforts resulting in a win against Real Madrid.
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These outcomes put the European champions in eighth place with six points from four games, positioning them likely for a play-off berth.
However, with their concluding two league phase matches against teams positioned in the elimination zone—Dutch club Twente and Belgian side Leuven—the Gunners are optimistic about securing a top-four finish to achieve automatic knockout stage qualification.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s pursuit of their first Champions League title has yielded mixed results so far this season.
The team had a shaky start with a lackluster draw against Dutch champions Twente but quickly rebounded, decisively defeating Paris FC and netting six against St. Pölten, followed by a commendable 1-1 draw against long-time rivals Barcelona.
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After four matches, Sonia Bompastor’s side sits in sixth place, just a point and two spots away from the top four, but notably building momentum and confidence.
They will host Roma in their fifth match before heading to face two-time champions Wolfsburg in a potentially pivotal encounter for automatic qualification.
Manchester United
Manchester United led against Wolfsburg but suffered a 5-2 defeat, marking their first loss in this league phase [Getty Images]
Manchester United made a strong start to their European debut, winning their first three matches against Valerenga, Atletico Madrid, and Paris St-Germain while conceding just one goal. However, their momentum was disrupted with a stunning 5-2 defeat to Wolfsburg on matchday four.
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This heavy loss marked United’s third defeat in four matches across all competitions, highlighting concerns about squad depth as they navigate the demands of multiple competitions.
Currently, they hold nine points from four games, placing them fourth in the standings, which would grant them automatic quarter-final qualification. However, they must significantly improve to maintain this position.
Next up for Marc Skinner’s squad is a match against Lyon at Leigh Sports Village, followed by an away game against Italian giants Juventus.
Current Standings
All three English clubs still have the opportunity to secure a place in the quarter-finals [BBC Sport]
Each team has two games left in the league phase—one home and one away—and their final standings will be determined by points after matchday six.
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Teams ranked 13th to 18th will be eliminated from the tournament.
At present, Manchester United is positioned to qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while Arsenal and Chelsea are likely heading into the play-offs.
However, with only four points separating United in fourth and Paris FC in twelfth, the situation remains precarious.
For added excitement, all nine matches on matchday six (Wednesday, December 17) will be played simultaneously at 20:00 GMT, ensuring the standings remain dynamic until the final whistle of the league phase.