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Matchday Two of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League showcased thrilling matchups and teased what’s ahead.

The UWCL table currently has Barcelona, Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, and OL Lyonnes leading with perfect records. Manchester United also boasts a 100% record after two matches. This week, OL Lyonnes star Lily Yohannes scored a spectacular goal, while Paris Saint-Germain faced difficulties, and both Chelsea and Arsenal overcame their recent setbacks, while Belgian underdogs OH Leuven continued to defy expectations.

We consulted our writers Beth Lindop, Connor O’Halloran, and Sam Marsden for their insights on some key questions.

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– Women’s Champions League: Understanding the new format
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– Yohannes, Caldentey: Who has MVP potential across all 18 UWCL teams?

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How remarkable is Lily Yohannes? And how did the USWNT stars perform this week?

Lindop: Are we witnessing the rise of another golden generation for the USWNT? Based on this week’s performances, it sure seems plausible. Yohannes, an 18-year-old midfielder, made a stunning impact with her first UWCL goal for OL Lyonnes against St. Pölten. Her audacity to attempt a lob from 40 yards out highlights her awareness of her exceptional talent. Both she and international teammate Alyssa Thompson, who scored for Chelsea against Paris FC, have Ballon d’Or potential, and if their recent form continues, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them realize that potential.

O’Halloran: Scoring your first-ever Champions League goal in such a dramatic fashion is a special achievement. Yohannes’ remarkable lob was particularly astounding considering she had no business attempting that from 40 yards out, especially with all-time great Ada Hegerberg making a run into space behind the defense. It was a bold move that paid off, and she wasn’t just about that moment; she also made an impressive solo run through St. Pölten’s defense. Between Yohannes and Thompson, it was a stellar week for USWNT players abroad.

Marsden: Yohannes and Thompson attracted much of the attention, so let’s turn our focus to Manchester United‘s goalkeeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who shone in their 1-0 victory against Atlético Madrid with six saves, including a critical stop against Luany. Her performance was crucial in securing three points for her team in Spain, marking six appearances this season without conceding a goal.

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Real Madrid and Manchester United are both 2 for 2, but which team has been more impressive?

Lindop: Based on their status as newcomers to the league phase, I would pick Manchester United. They remain the only team yet to concede a goal, showcasing defensive excellence reminiscent of their strong WSL start. However, long-term concerns about their squad depth may arise. Real Madrid is flying under the radar, but don’t underestimate their potential as contenders in this tournament.

Marsden: There are many similarities between these two teams, both relatively new in the women’s football landscape and emerging from two of the world’s largest clubs. Though they’ve encountered challenges in their development, they’ve both maintained perfect records in the Champions League so far. Evaluating their overall performance, United’s start to the season has been noteworthy, yet Real Madrid’s eye-catching performances — notably their dismantling of Roma and a win in Paris — may hint at their depth and talent. Caroline Weir particularly impressed against PSG. They could view a deep run in Europe as more achievable than dealing with Barça’s dominance in Liga F. Therefore, I align with Beth in suggesting they are serious contenders.

O’Halloran: One could argue that United have been more impressive this season, especially considering the off-pitch challenges they face — they suffered a boot loss en route to their qualifier in Norway just last month. They have handled their opening weeks smartly. Their tenacity was evident; even after Dominique Jansen received a red card in the first half while away in Spain, the team demonstrated resilience. As manager Marc Skinner noted, “Any opponent looking at us will think it’s not going to be easy,” and he’s correct. Success in European football isn’t about being the most polished; it’s about finding ways to win in tough conditions, which United has done exceptionally well thus far.

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What are our thoughts on VAR thus far?

O’Halloran: VAR always presents dual perspectives: the officials’ and the fans’. Fans might argue that the handball by Valerenga‘s Naina Inauen, which led to Wolfsburg’s last-minute penalty, was not “clear and obvious.” Yet, based on the law, one could argue it was. The same goes for the penalty Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nüsken received after Anaële Le Moguédec inadvertently stepped on her heel. Fans would likely disagree with whether that counts as a penalty. However, VAR’s role is to enforce the laws of the game, not to exercise common sense, which remains a constant theme across all its implementations, including in the UWCL.

Lindop: For years, advocates of women’s football have urged for the implementation of VAR, believing it could minimize notable refereeing mistakes seen in the UWCL previously. However, the system and its execution come with drawbacks, much like in the Premier League. The criteria for VAR intervention frequently seem inconsistent, with one person’s idea of “clear and obvious” significantly differing from another’s perspective. Take Dominique Janssen‘s red card against Atlético Madrid — the referee initially made the right decision, but VAR stepped in based more on Gio’s reaction rather than focusing on the tackle itself. Fans can anticipate several similar decisions that might evoke frustration this season, but I still believe introducing VAR in the league phase was a wise move.

Marsden: Beth makes a strong point; bringing VAR into the league phase was undoubtedly the right decision. Issues surrounding close calls will always exist, but its presence protects referees against glaring errors. I believe in maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention, even accepting some wrong marginal calls during live play. I’m not an advocate for VAR involvement in instances like the Janssen challenge.

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Are Paris Saint-Germain in a troubling position? What’s going wrong?

Lindop: Though PSG made some smart signings this summer, talent acquisition doesn’t always guarantee success in Europe — as their men’s squad can attest. They’ve faced a tough selection of opponents and have more challenges upcoming. However, their current form indicates a lack of cohesion and dwindling confidence, which could be detrimental if solutions aren’t found swiftly. Without urgent changes, they may find qualifying for the knockout stages increasingly difficult.

Marsden: The situation is concerning. It’s not just their defeats to Wolfsburg and Real Madrid, but the challenging opponents on their schedule ahead. Upcoming matches against Manchester United and Bayern Munich will be tough. Considering their recent form — aided by a 6-1 loss to OL Lyonnes earlier this season — overcoming success seems unlikely. While matches against OH Leuven and Benfica may present some winnable fixtures, they might be running out of time to secure necessary points.

O’Halloran: It’s never a good moment for a team to begin their poorest UWCL run, and with their current four-game losing streak spanning back to last season’s semifinals, alarms are ringing for PSG. There may be truth to the idea that summer changes in the squad have left them weaker. New signings like Rasheedat Ajibade, Crystal Dunn, and Olga Carmona haven’t compensated for the losses of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Korbin Shrader, and Grace Geyoro. Whether this represents a slow adjustment period or something deeper is uncertain, but they must resolve their issues soon. An away match at United next month will significantly impact their trajectory, but for now, they’re in considerable trouble.

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Could OH Leuven really defy the odds and qualify?

O’Halloran: It’s unlikely they can maintain their current form through the rest of the competition. They face incredibly challenging fixtures ahead: Barcelona (a), Roma (h), PSG (a), and Arsenal (h). It’s likely that we’ll look back at these early league phase matches and see OH Leuven as having been a flash in the pan. However, they have shown some resilience, netting late goals to secure victories against Twente, who managed a draw against Chelsea, illustrating their determination. In a European setting, this spirit can go a long way.

Lindop: Momentum in football is unpredictable. Logically, OH Leuven shouldn’t have any chance of qualification, but their victory against Twente and a draw against Paris FC will give them confidence to compete effectively. Nonetheless, their next match against Barcelona will be crucial, and if they can avoid a heavy loss and secure a positive result against AS Roma, they might find themselves in contention.

Marsden: Expecting them to lose at Barcelona seems reasonable, making their subsequent home match against Roma critical. Their resilience has shone through in both games so far, coming from behind to clinch crucial victories. This gives them confidence against the Italians, and if they win, they could reach seven points. The implications of that are unknown given this new league format, but it’s possible they could be in contention for a top-12 position, depending on their result against Roma.