Chelsea and Manchester City are set for an exciting all-English Women’s Champions League quarter-final clash, while Arsenal will take on Real Madrid in the same round. The draw sets the stage for intense action as the competition unfolds over the next few months.
The holders, Barcelona, will meet Wolfsburg in a repeat of the 2023 final. The winner of this tie will face either Chelsea or City in the semi-finals, putting both Barcelona and Chelsea in the same half of the draw. This is significant, as Barcelona, the Spanish league leaders and favorites, and Chelsea, the English league leaders, will be on a collision course if both teams progress.
Arsenal, who won the 2007 Women’s European title, are drawn against Real Madrid, who finished as runners-up in their group to Chelsea. The winner of that match will then face the victor of the Bayern Munich vs. Lyon quarter-final, ensuring a highly competitive side of the draw for the semi-finals.
For Chelsea and City, the quarter-final draw means they will meet in at least four consecutive matches during March. First, they will face off in the League Cup final on March 15. This will be followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, scheduled for March 18-19. The two teams will then meet again in the Women’s Super League on March 23, before concluding the month with the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on March 26-27. This intense schedule could also see them face each other in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals on the weekend of March 8-9, depending on the outcome of their respective fifth-round ties.
This tightly packed series of encounters promises plenty of drama. City knew when they finished second in their group behind Barcelona that they had a high probability of drawing an English side. With Barcelona already ruled out as an opponent, City could only face one of Arsenal, Chelsea, or Lyon. While Chelsea will be a formidable challenge for them, both teams will be determined to push for progression in Europe.
Barcelona, however, will enter the quarter-finals as favorites. The Spanish giants have dominated the competition in recent years, winning three of the past four seasons, and they will be eager to secure another title. Their opponent, Wolfsburg, who they defeated in last year’s final, will be aiming for redemption and has proven to be a formidable opponent in European football.
Lyon, who are in the same half of the draw as Barcelona, will face Bayern Munich in their quarter-final. With eight Women’s Champions League titles to their name, Lyon remain one of the most successful teams in the competition’s history. However, after a challenging period, they will need to put together their best performances to maintain their title aspirations.
For Arsenal, their quarter-final matchup against Real Madrid represents an opportunity to progress to the semi-finals for the first time in recent years. Arsenal, who have a strong squad, will be looking to take advantage of this favorable draw and challenge for the prestigious European title once again.
The quarter-finals will be played over two legs, with the first leg scheduled for March 18-19 and the second leg set for March 26-27. The group winners will host the second leg, with crucial home advantage on offer. The semi-finals will be played in April, and the final is set for May 24, 2025, at the 50,000-seat Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
As the Women’s Champions League continues to grow in stature and excitement, the upcoming fixtures promise to deliver thrilling encounters as the continent’s top teams compete for European glory.
