The UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification rounds have concluded and it is not a good news for Arsenal Women.

EDGWARE, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: The Arsenal Ladies team pose for a team photo during the Womens UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Arsenal Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies at The Hive on March 30, 2014 in Edgware, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
EDGWARE, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: The Arsenal Ladies team pose for a team photo during the Womens UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Arsenal Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies at The Hive on March 30, 2014 in Edgware, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Arsenal make their return to the Champions League this season after a five-year hiatus but they will not be seeded, putting them at risk of a tough draw in the first round draw that will take place on Friday lunchtime in Zurich, Switzerland.

The draw rules are as follows:

  • The 16 sides with the highest coefficient are seeded and placed in a separate pot to the unseeded teams, with each tie containing one team from each pot
  • No club can meet a team from their own association. Any other restrictions will be announced ahead of the draw
  • The seeds will play the second leg at home
  • Matches will be played 11/12 & 25/26 September

The seeded teams are:

  • Lyon (FRA, holders) coefficient 129.865
  • Wolfsburg (GER) 112.575
  • Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 99.865
  • Barcelona (ESP) 91.160
  • Bayern München (GER) 67.575
  • Slavia Praha (CZE) 59.870
  • Manchester City (ENG) 59.655
  • Brøndby (DEN) 50.045
  • Fortuna Hjørring (DEN) 47.045
  • FC Zürich (SUI) 44.230
  • BIIK-Kazygurt* (KAZ) 34.580
  • Glasgow City (SCO) 34.085
  • Atlético Madrid (ESP) 33.160
  • Sparta Praha (CZE) 32.870
  • FC Twente* (NED) 26.900
  • Fiorentina (ITA) 26.890

The unseeded teams are:

  • St. Pölten (AUT) 20.270
  • ŽFK Spartak* (SRB) 17.955
  • Arsenal (ENG) 17.655
  • Piteå (SWE) 17.655
  • Göteborg (SWE) 17.655
  • FC Minsk* (BLR) 16.625
  • Juventus (ITA) 14.890
  • Ryazan-VDV (RUS) 14.580
  • Hibernian* (SCO) 13.085
  • Breidablik* (ISL) 10.930
  • Lugano (SUI) 10.230
  • Chertanovo (RUS) 8.580
  • Vllaznia* (ALB) 7.315
  • Anderlecht* (BEL) 5.465
  • Braga* (POR) 3.630
  • Mitrovica* (KOS) 0.330

*came through qualifying round

Arsenal cannot draw Manchester City, so there are 15 potential opponents.

The following teams would be considered a tough draw: Lyon and Wolfsburg.

The following teams would be considered beatable but difficult: FC Bayern, PSG, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid.

The remaining teams would be considered relatively easier in terms of winning.

There are basically five teams to avoid in Friday’s draw, so that’s a 66.66% chance of getting a kind draw.

In terms of an away trip, Florence or Prague would be nice cities to visit. I mean, our last Champions League away game was in Birmingham, not the most exotic place in the world I’m sure you’ll agree.

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