The anticipation for the Women’s Champions League is building as the draw for the first round has taken place, setting the stage for thrilling encounters. Arsenal, the 2007 winners, will kick off their campaign against Swedish side Linkoping. Meanwhile, Glasgow City, Cardiff City, and Shelbourne have been drawn together in an exciting first-round group.
In the semi-finals, Scottish champions Glasgow City will face their Irish counterparts, Shelbourne, while Cardiff City will take on Gintra of Lithuania. The winners of each semi-final will progress to the mini-final, with a chance to secure a spot in the next round against either Welsh champions Cardiff or Gintra.
Arsenal, who reached the last four in the previous season, will take on either Paris or Kryvbas of Ukraine in their final match if they advance. The English club is determined to build on their previous success and make a strong impact in this year’s competition.
The draw also revealed intriguing fixtures for other teams. Scottish runners-up Celtic will face Brondby of Denmark in their semi-final, with the winners set to meet either Minsk of Belarus or Valerenga from Norway. Northern Irish champions Cliftonville will go head-to-head against Benfica, who reached the main group stage last season. The victors of this encounter will face off against either Riga of Latvia or Shymkent of Kazakhstan.
This year marks the debut of Cliftonville and Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League. While Cliftonville faces a challenging match against Benfica, England’s runners-up will enter the competition in the second round alongside other clubs.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes will rise, with English champions Chelsea, holders Barcelona, former winners Lyon, and Bayern Munich joining directly in the 16-team group stage. These powerhouse teams will be eager to secure a place in the final, which is scheduled to be held at Sporting Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade on May 24, 25, or 26.
Fans and supporters can look forward to a captivating Women’s Champions League season filled with intense competition and memorable moments. The stage is set, and the teams are ready to battle it out for glory in one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s football.
