Champions League is back!
Competition begins on Tuesday, with the new season featuring many familiar powerhouses, as well as some newcomers.
This is the second iteration of the Champions League under league phase, having evolved from a typical group stage-style qualifying round.
Between now and mid-December, all of the qualified teams will play six other teams, two from each designated “pot.” The top four teams after six matchdays will directly advance to the quarterfinals, while teams placed fifth through 12th will compete for the remaining quarterfinal spots via a playoff knockout round.
Nine squads that directly qualified for the league phase were joined by nine teams that qualified via third-round qualifying victories. Teams designated pots were determined by their club coefficient from the previous season.
Here are five things to know ahead of the first matchday of the season.
New faces, new places
Many newcomers, or returning teams, feature in Pot 3, due to their club coefficient rating. Despite largely composed of underdogs, Manchester City headline the group coming off a dominant season last year that culminated in winning the domestic league. Manchester look strong as ever, after re-signing Super League Golden Boot winner Khadija “Bunny” Shaw over the summer. The question remains whether the club can turn their domestic dominance into international success, a challenge often proven difficult for WSL clubs.
Austria Wien come in as underdogs, but feature a promising young star in Kosovan striker Modesta Uka. The Austrian side found success in the playoffs to make their debut Champions League appearance. However, the newcomers face a tough draw, having to face juggernauts Chelsea on Matchday 1. Wein will also have to go through the likes of Manchester City and semifinalist Bayern in the League phase.
Speaking of remarkable players, Lyonnes made headlines this summer by signing Scottish captain Caroline Weir and Spanish striker Salma Paralluelo to their already stacked lineup from Real Madrid. The eight-time champions will look to avenge last season’s loss to Barça and regain their international standing as the champions of Europe under head coach Jonatan Giraldez.
Weir discussed the significance of playing for a program as historically dominant as that of Lyonnes, on the Attacking Third podcast.
“Obviously going to Lyon, it’s a massive part of their season. They have such a big history in it. And with the format that it is now, it’s really exciting. Can’t wait to kick it off, really.”
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!
Melvine Malard continues to be a player to watch this season with Chelsea, and is looking to build upon her great prior season with Manchester United. She is joined by a newly acquired veteran Katie McCabe, who joined the Blues after an astonishing 11 years with crosstown rivals Arsenal.
USWNT and Chelsea striker Alyssa Thompson had this to say about her new teammates, in a recent interview with BBC Women’s Football: “Melvine and Katie have been a great addition to our team. They are so tenacious on the field and I feel like they know how to win. So, it’s really cool that they are here and are helping us get to the next level of the Champions League, that’s what we want to do, and I think they’re great additions for that.”
Champions League competition will look a little different this season, most notably without Spanish star and former Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas now playing with the London City Lionesses.
In terms of teams we expect to feature in the competition, Wolfsburg is notably absent this season after losing in a buzzer-beater to Inter Milan in the playoff competition. The two-time champions were sent packing; Inter made their Champions League debut in spectacular fashion on penalties.
Star power and matchups for the ages
The league phase rewarded players and fans alike with some of the most exciting matchups European football can offer.
Arsenal are only one of two teams that face both Barcelona and OL Lyonnes in the league phase. Chelsea face OL Lyonnes on Matchday 2.
Wednesday, in the second part of the first matchday, reigning champions Barcelona FC host Paris FC at home. It will be an exciting test for a veteran Barcelona squad in addition to new signing Kerolin.
Rep The IX Sports at your next game!
Shop the logo collection or special “Women’s Sports are Front Page News” collection now on Shopify.
A safe bet?
Despite losing “La Reina” over the offseason, Barça feminin look as dominant as ever. Last season, concerns about personnel changes due to finances on the men’s side were silenced throughout the season and by the team eventually coming away with the trophy. The moral of the story: never underestimate Barça.
On a recent Attacking Third episode, retired Scottish player and now analyst Jen Beattie noted, “I mean, back-to-back, regardless of who this team loses personnel-wise, they still have all the talent to go and compete for any trophy.”
Ol Lyonnes may be in the best place to challenge Barcelona for the title. Seeking revenge, the French giants have acquired plentiful talent in Caroline Weir and Salma Paralluelos, to complement an already star-studded roster.
Still, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can build upon their semifinal run last season and compete for glory. Can Bayern lean on last season’s success despite the loss of English midfielder Georgia Stanway?
England legend Ellen White recently commented on the chances of a WSL team going far in the competition.
“So for a WSL team, I feel like it’s going to be all or nothing against those teams. You’re going to have to play the best football you’ve ever played and have a really good game plan and structure…It’s performing on the day. For a WSL team, you need your star players performing and coming to the forefront. And those special moments happening.”
The first glimpse of the teams in European action this week may give us a clue to what the rest of the season may hold.
