UEFA has completed the draws for the Women’s Champions League and the Women’s Europa Cup at its headquarters in Nyon. The draws cover the third qualifying round of the Champions League and the first qualifying round of the Europa Cup.
The Champions League qualifiers are split into two paths, the Champions Path and the League Path. Chelsea enter the competition at this stage after finishing third in the league.
Champions Path
- AC Sparta Praha (CZE) vs Servette FC Chênois Féminin (SUI)
- PSV Eindhoven (NED) vs HB Køge Women (DEN)
- SK Brann (NOR) vs FK Austria Wien (AUT)
- OH Leuven (BEL) vs KKS Czarni Sosnowiec (POL)
This side of the draw is very open and all eight teams have a chance of qualifying for the league phase. It is worth noting that Polish champions Sosnowiec will be without four players who are preparing for the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
League Path
- Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) vs Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
- SKN St. Pölten Frauen (AUT) vs Juventus FC (ITA)
- VfL Wolfsburg (GER) vs F.C. Internazionale Milano (ITA)
- Chelsea FC Women (ENG) vs Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP)
- AFC Ajax (NED) vs Real Madrid C.F. (ESP)
Frankfurt versus PSG is a repeat of the 2014-15 final, when 1. FFC Frankfurt defeated the French side 2-1 with an injury-time winner. It should be a closely contested tie, with both sides having lost several players during the summer and therefore weakened. Geraldine Reuteler has moved from Frankfurt to Arsenal, while Nicole Anyomi has joined London City Lionesses, for example.
Juventus should start as slight favourites against St. Pölten, who performed well during last season’s league phase. Wolfsburg and Chelsea should, in theory, progress, although early-season fixtures can always produce surprises. Real Madrid will start as slight favourites, but Ajax have made several experienced, high-quality signings during the summer and could certainly upset the Spanish runners-up.
Women’s Europa Cup first qualifying round draw
- FC Minsk (BLR) vs ŽNK Agram (CRO)
- ŽNK Hajduk Split (CRO) vs Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)
- Radomlje (SVN) vs Vålerenga Fotball (NOR)
- Apollon Ladies FC (CYP) vs FH (ISL)
- KFF Mitrovica (KOS) vs FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (UKR)
- SK Sturm Graz (AUT) vs FC Gintra (LTU)
- Sport Clube União Torreense (POR) vs FC Kolos Kovalivka (UKR)
- SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH) vs Slovan Liberec (CZE)
- Breidablik (ISL) vs FK Csíkszereda (ROU)
- SeaSters Odesa (UKR) vs Rosenborg BK Kvinner (NOR)
- RSC Anderlecht (BEL) vs Feyenoord (NED)
- ŽFK Spartak Subotica (SRB) vs Brøndby IF (DEN)
In the Europa Cup, holders BK Häcken have qualified for the Champions League, while last season’s runners-up will enter in the second qualifying round. The top seven nations, England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Sweden, do not receive a direct entry into the tournament. That is why the fourth-placed team in the Women’s Super League does not qualify for the Europa Cup.
However, teams that take part in Champions League qualifying can drop into the Europa Cup. That is why two Swedish clubs, Hammarby and Malmö, will enter the Europa Cup in the second round, while we could also see Frankfurt or PSG drop into the UWEC.
This is only the second season of the Europa Cup and it gives many more clubs the opportunity to compete in European football through a knockout competition.
As a reminder, Arsenal are one of the nine clubs to have qualified directly for the Women’s Champions League league phase, alongside Barcelona (holders), Manchester City, OL Lyonnes, Paris FC, FC Bayern, AS Roma, Benfica and BK Häcken.
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