The Women’s Champions League Group Stage – More exciting than ever before
Barcelona against Bayern Munich, Chelsea against PSG, and Arsenal against Lyon – these matches are not semi-finals, but pairings that will already meet in the Women’s Champions League group stage.
On Wednesday, the next round of the tournament starts . There are already matches in front of big crowds that would be worthy of a final. The draw this year was a tough one.
But who are the favourites and who are the players to watch out for?
Group A: “The group of death”
Group A can already be described as “group of death”. With Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, there are three top-class teams in here. In addition, KFF Vllaznia Shkodër are the outsiders.
Chelsea will certainly want to make up for their early exit after the group stage last season. With star player Sam Kerr and several English European champions, led by Millie Bright, the aim is to finally win the title this year.
Pernille Harder, the two-time European Women’s Footballer of the Year, returned to the pitch at the last WSL game after injury. Furthermore, the Blues have strengthened their defence with Kadeisha Buchanan and French international Eve Perisset.
PSG hope to add even more quality with new signing Lieke Martens. Goal-scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto may have to sit out the first game due to injury but is sure to play a key role in the team when she returns to the pitch.
As the third top club in the group, Real Madrid will be looking to reach the quarterfinals again this year.
Vllaznia are the first Albanian club – men’s teams included – to reach the last 16 in a UEFA competition in 30 years. However, as we all know, such an opponent can always be good for a surprise.
Group A
- Chelsea
- PSG
- Real Madrid
- Vllaznia
Favourites: Chelsea and PSG
Players to watch: Lauren James (Chelsea), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)
Group B: The “weakest” group?
If you had to call one group the weakest, it would probably be Group B with AS Roma, Slavia Praha, St. Pölten and VfL Wolfsburg. The German club is certainly considered the clear favourite here.
Since the 2012/13 season, “die Wölfinnen” have always reached at least the quarterfinals of the Women’s Champions League and have won the title twice – a record to be proud of.
The German national players Alexandra Popp and Lena Oberdorf showed their world class once again at the European Championships in the summer. In addition, young talent Jule Brand decided to move to VfL from Hoffenheim and has already been able to show off her many qualities.
For the remaining teams, it will probably be a tight race for second place. AS Roma have Carina Wenninger on loan from Bayern Munich for one year and thus have a good base in the defence. The previous Italian runners-up are making their Champions League debut this year.
Slavia Praha and St. Pölten both failed to qualify for the group stage last year.
Group B
- Roma
- Slavia Praha
- Pölten
- VfL Wolfsburg
Favourite: Wolfsburg
Player to watch: Jule Brand (Wolfsburg)
Group C: Mission title defence
Group C is another superb group. Arsenal, Juventus Turin, and Olympique Lyon previously reached the quarter-finals – this year at least one team will not make it.
Juventus already proved how much quality they have and that they can also provide a big crowd in the stadium. This year, the club is making another run at the title with top-class reinforcements in the person of Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir (Lyon) and Lineth Beerensteyn (FC Bayern).
With eight Champions League titles to their name and last season’s triumph, Lyon enter the competition with a clear mission: to defend their title.
However, the team is currently struggling with numerous injuries: the absences of Delphine Cascarino, Dszenifer Marozsán and Ada Hegerberg are only the tip of the iceberg. But this will certainly not let the French team deviate from its mission.
On top of that, Arsenal have perhaps the best attacking duo in European football. Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are both in exceptional form. In the previous WSL goal scoring chart, they came in second and third after Sam Kerr. In addition, Mead was named Player of the European Championships 2022 with six goals and five assists for England.
The last club in the group is FC Zürich. The Swiss team, who failed to qualify for the group stage last season, has a tough task ahead. With former German international Inka Grings as coach, the aim is to achieve the best possible performance.
Group C
- Arsenal
- Juventus Turin
- Olympique Lyon
- FC Zürich
Favourites: Lyon and Arsenal
Players to watch: Beth Mead (Arsenal), Selma Bacha (Lyon)
Group D: The challengers
Last year’s finalist FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, FC Rosengard and Benfica Lisbon ended up in the last group.
Even without world footballer Alexia Putellas, who tore her cruciate ligament shortly before the European Championships, the Catalans are considered title contenders. Barca helped themselves to Manchester City twice in the summer transfer window: English internationals Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh are to bring even more class into an already strong team.
FC Bayern also recently had to report a cruciate ligament injury. German international Giulia Gwinn has now been hit for the second time. On a more positive note, Munich landed a transfer coup par excellence with Georgia Stanway.
The English international immediately impressed with her physicality and dangerous long-range shots during the first games for her new club. Bayern Munich announced that their home game against Barcelona will be played at Allianz Arena.
While Rosengard did not make it to the group stage last year, Benfica still managed to finish third. The Portuguese side also met FC Bayern in the group then.
Group D
- FC Barcelona
- FC Bayern Munich
- FC Rosengard
- Benfica Lisbon
Favourites: Barcelona and Bayern Munich
Players to watch: Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
The UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off on Wednesday, 19 October at 5.45 pm, with Bayern Munich vs Rosengard and FC Zurich vs Juventus Turin. As last year, all matches will be streamed for free on the DAZN UEFA Women’s Champions League YouTube account.
The final will take place in Eindhoven in June 2023.
