The UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase draw occurred on Friday, revealing the matchups for all 18 participating teams.
Arsenal faces a daunting challenge, taking on the reigning champions Barcelona, who they defeated in the 2024-25 final, as well as last year’s finalists, OL Lyonnes. Meanwhile, Chelsea will contend with two formidable French teams: Lyonnes and Paris Saint-Germain.
What do our writers think about the draw? Let’s dive into the analysis.
How the draw was conducted
As in the previous year, the draw arranged each team’s fixtures within a single table, with the top 12 progressing to the knockout rounds at the end of December.
• The league phase kicks off on Sept. 22-23 and concludes on Dec. 16.
• Teams ranked 13th to 18th will be eliminated.
• Eight teams positioned 5th to 12th will compete in February’s knockout playoffs for a chance to reach the quarterfinals.
• The top four teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals, scheduled for March and April.
From the knockout playoffs onward, the competition will feature a two-legged format up to the semifinals, culminating in a single-match final.
Barcelona vs. Arsenal: A Predicted Final
In a repeat of the 2025 final, European champions Barcelona will host Arsenal, serving as a preview for this season’s final, set to take place in Warsaw. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to predict Barça reaching the final; they’ve reached seven of the last eight finals, winning four times. Despite a summer of personnel changes, including departures of stars like Alexia Putellas and Mapi León, their midfield remains one of the strongest, equipped to make a deep run in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s path to the final appears less certain, but they are the English team best accustomed to European competition. Having reached the semifinals last year as two-time winners, they could perform well when spring arrives. However, their challenge lies in managing their focus on both the Champions League and the WSL title, which may lead to fatigue.
Verdict: OVERREACTION — Sam Marsden
Chelsea Set to Dominate the League Phase
Chelsea will likely be satisfied with this draw. Although OL Lyonnes presents a significant challenge, they have manageable matches ahead. PSG will struggle against them, while Chelsea will feel confident against Roma and Austria Wien at home. They also expect to secure victories away at BK Häcken and OH Leuven. While these two matches could test them, Chelsea will be the favorites.
The Champions League has been an elusive title for Chelsea, their ultimate goal. Emma Hayes came close in 2021; now, with Sonia Bompastor’s recruitment, the aim is to claim the title. However, their 2024-25 campaign ended with an 8-2 defeat to Barcelona in the semifinals, while Arsenal thwarted their ambitions last year in the quarterfinals.
This draw places them in a promising position to finish first in the league phase, but they may still fall short of the overall title, facing stronger contenders.
Verdict: OVERREACTION — Tom Hamilton
OL Lyonnes May Miss the Top Four
Once a dominant force in European football, OL Lyonnes has seen the tides turn against them. Despite boasting an impressive record of eight titles, they recently encountered a setback with a heavy 4-0 loss to Barcelona in last year’s final, marking the beginning of their struggles.
Returning to the final now seems more complex. Their dominant mentality has dissipated following a four-year trophy drought, and despite their solid squad depth, their management may not align conducive. Their draw poses additional challenges, with away games against both English heavyweights and matchups against BK Häcken, Juventus, and Inter Milan. These encounters could expose defensive vulnerabilities, as all opponents possess the capability to stifle Lyonnes’ best attacks.
As such, they may find themselves outside the top four and needing to qualify through playoffs to reach the quarterfinals. If things do not go well, they might not achieve even that.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION — Emily Keogh
Arsenal May Also Fall Short of the Top Four
Arsenal knows how to secure a tournament victory and has had a productive summer transfer window, welcoming talents like Ona Batlle, Georgia Stanway, Selina Cerci, and Géraldine Reuteler. However, their group stage draw presents a formidable challenge. They will face tough matches against Barcelona and host OL Lyonnes at Emirates — the latter having ended their previous European hopes.
Games against Paris FC and Inter Milan, who defeated Wolfsburg in the playoffs, will also be challenging. Although Benfica and HB Koge may provide more manageable tests at home, facing last season’s finalists could mean Arsenal finds itself fighting for a knockout round appearance through the playoffs.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION — Hamilton
Inter Milan May Surprise and Qualify
After eliminating former champions Wolfsburg on penalties, Inter Milan has secured their spot in the league phase of the UWCL, signaling a promising start to their debut campaign. Although they are newcomers, they bring a wealth of experience, having performed admirably in their domestic league, finishing ahead of rivals Juventus.
This mix of European exposure and domestic success could enhance their chances to progress to the playoffs under the new league phase format. Inter’s schedule – including matches against Arsenal (H), Lyonnes (A), BK Häcken (H), Real Madrid (A), Manchester City (H), and Austria Wien (A) – provides a challenging yet navigable pathway to avoid the bottom four.
Their direct, aggressive playing style could present challenges for possession-based teams like Arsenal and OL Lyonnes, and their agility to capitalize on opponents’ missteps could allow them to secure valuable points against Manchester City and Real Madrid. For a debutant, Inter could emerge as one of the league phase’s notable dark horses.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION — Keogh
Paris Saint-Germain May Face Collapse
PSG consistently disappoints relative to their significant investment in the squad and failed to progress beyond the league phase last season without securing a single victory.
This summer, they lost several crucial players, such as goalkeeper Mary Earps to London City Lionesses and Élisa De Almeida to Arsenal. This could lead to yet another implosion for the team. Challenging away fixtures against Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City may see them falter again.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION — Beth Lindop
Felicia Schröder Emerges as Top Scorer Contender
Real Madrid is actively enhancing their squad with significant summer investments, but they face a tricky draw that could push them into the playoffs. Regardless of how far they progress, expect to see plenty of goals from rising star Felicia Schröder.
The 19-year-old forward, who moved from BK Häcken for over €1 million, has hit the ground running in Spain, scoring during both playoff matches against Ajax to secure their league phase spot and netting a brace in their Liga F opening match against Atlético Madrid. While Schröder is likely to be the standout performer in the league phase, Madrid’s potential early exit may hinder her chances of becoming the top scorer in the competition.
Verdict: OVERREACTION — Marsden
Manchester City’s Injuries May Hinder Their Prospects
Last season was a remarkable one for City as they claimed their first WSL title in a decade under the guidance of Andree Jeglertz. However, their European track record is not as impressive, with their last semifinal appearance dating back to 2018. It is unlikely this will change this year, as injuries could impede their path to qualification.
Their relatively straightforward draw could offer them a reprieve, particularly with more challenging fixtures held at home. Yet, missing key players like Vivienne Miedema, Sydney Lohmann, and Niamh Charles could leave them struggling for qualification via the playoffs.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION — Lindop