Title-holders Arsenal will begin the defence of their Women’s Champions League crown on Tuesday with a blockbuster clash against eight-time winners Lyon, as Europe’s elite competition launches its new format.
Replacing the old 16-team group stage, an 18-team league phase now sees every club play six matches — three at home and three away. The top four progress directly to the quarter-finals, while teams finishing fifth to 12th advance to a knockout play-off.
That leaves little margin for error, and Arsenal face a stern opening test at Meadow Park in a repeat of last season’s semi-final, which they won 5-3 on aggregate.
The Gunners, however, arrive in shaky form. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester City followed back-to-back draws with Manchester United and Aston Villa, leaving them winless in three Women’s Super League outings and down in fifth place. Injured captain Leah Williamson’s absence has only added to their defensive vulnerability.
“When we have momentum, capitalise, be ruthless and protect yourself really well for when the momentum shifts again,” urged manager Renee Slegers after the City loss. “We’re going to do everything we can to recover from this one and show up in a really good Arsenal way on Tuesday.”
Lyon, by contrast, look rampant under new coach Jonatan Giraldez, who masterminded Barcelona’s European dominance earlier in the decade. The French champions top their domestic league with a perfect record, scoring 19 goals in four games, including an emphatic 6-1 win over PSG and an 8-1 thrashing of Lens.
With Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, and new signing Jule Brand in attack, Lyon travel to north London brimming with firepower.
Elsewhere on matchday one, last season’s runners-up Barcelona host Bayern Munich in another heavyweight contest. Aitana Bonmatí, fresh from a third straight Ballon d’Or but without a goal since early September, will be eager to silence critics after a turbulent summer and a painful Champions League final defeat to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea begin away at Dutch side Twente, PSG head to Wolfsburg, Real Madrid welcome Roma, Manchester United visit Norway’s Valerenga, and Juventus host Benfica.
