Arsenal drawn against Barcelona and Lyon in Women's Champions League

The draw for the UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase has placed Arsenal in a formidable group, pitting them against reigning champions Barcelona and eight-time winners Lyon. This sets up an exciting clash for the Gunners as they aim to compete at the highest level.

Arsenal’s home fixtures will see them host Lyon, Benfica, and Danish side HB Koge, whom they previously defeated in the 2021-22 campaign. Their away matches will take them to Barcelona, Paris FC, and Inter Milan, as they pursue a European title.

Chelsea, the 2020-21 finalists, have been drawn in a competitive section. They will play Paris St-Germain, Roma, and debutants Austria Wien in their home matches. A reunion with former club awaits manager Sonia Bompastor as Chelsea faces Lyon in France, alongside trips to Hacken and OH Leuven.

Manachester City, returning to European football after a season’s absence, will face Bayern Munich, Hacken, and Inter Milan away from home. Their home ties are against PSG, Real Madrid, and Austria Wien. The draw saw clubs seeded into pots, with Arsenal and Chelsea in pot one and Manchester City in pot three.

The league phase kicks off on September 22-23, with the final group matches scheduled for December 16. The knockout stages will commence with play-offs in February 2027, leading to the quarter-finals in March and semi-finals in May. The final is slated for the last week of May in Warsaw.

This draw promises a thrilling start to the Women’s Champions League campaign for the English clubs, with several high-profile encounters on the horizon.

Source: Nile Post