Women’s Champions League: A Thrilling Finale Awaits

The inaugural league phase of the Women’s Champions League is set for a thrilling conclusion as teams compete for qualification to the knockout stage.

Last year’s finalists, Barcelona, currently lead the standings, closely followed by record eight-time champions Lyon. Meanwhile, Manchester United, making their debut in the main draw, are at the forefront among the three teams representing the Women’s Super League.

The top four teams will automatically secure spots in the quarter-finals, while positions five to twelve will engage in two-legged playoffs to determine who will advance.

BBC Sport examines the performance of the English clubs thus far and their prospects for progressing in the tournament.

Arsenal, the reigning champions, have faced challenges in their Champions League campaign this season, with results and performances not meeting the heightened expectations following their spectacular triumph over Barcelona last May.

The Gunners suffered an opening night defeat to Lyon, followed by a disheartening collapse against Bayern Munich, bookended by an unconvincing away victory over Benfica. However, Alessia Russo sparked a crucial resurgence, scoring both goals in a comeback victory against Real Madrid.

Currently, Arsenal sits eighth in the table with six points from four matches, positioned to finish in a playoff spot. With their final two league phase matches against teams in the elimination zone—Dutch side Twente and Belgian outfit Leuven—the Gunners are optimistic about securing a top-four finish and automatic advancement to the knockout rounds.

Chelsea’s pursuit of their first Champions League title has yielded mixed results thus far.

The team began with a lackluster draw against Dutch champions Twente but quickly rebounded, dominating Paris FC and overwhelming St Polten with a six-goal performance. They subsequently earned a commendable 1-1 draw against longtime rivals Barcelona.

After four matches, Chelsea currently occupies sixth place, trailing the top four by a single point. However, with momentum and confidence on their side, they look ahead to hosting Roma on matchday five before facing two-time champions Wolfsburg in a potentially pivotal match for automatic qualification.

Manchester United began their European debut with impressive form, winning their first three matches against Valerenga, Atletico Madrid, and Paris St-Germain, conceding only one goal. However, their momentum was abruptly halted on matchday four with a heavy 5-2 defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg.

This loss marked United’s third defeat in four matches across all competitions, raising concerns about squad depth as they grapple with the demands of competing on multiple fronts. Currently, with nine points from four games, they hold fourth place in the standings, which would grant them automatic qualification to the quarter-finals. Nonetheless, significant improvements are necessary to maintain this position.

Upcoming matches for United include a match against Lyon at Leigh Sports Village followed by a challenging away game against Italian giants Juventus.

All three English clubs still have the potential to qualify for the quarter-finals automatically. Each team has two remaining games in the league phase—one home and one away—with their final standings determined by the points accrued after matchday six.

The clubs positioned between thirteenth and eighteenth will be eliminated from the competition.

As it stands, Manchester United is on track for automatic qualification, while Arsenal and Chelsea may need to compete in playoffs. However, with only four points separating United in fourth place and Paris FC in twelfth, the situation remains highly competitive.

For added excitement, all nine matches on matchday six, scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, will kick off simultaneously at 20:00 GMT, ensuring the standings could shift dramatically until the final whistle of the league phase.

Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie return for another season of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, featuring interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and beyond.

Stay updated with the latest WSL news on our dedicated page.