Women’s Champions League knockout draw: Will Barcelona reign for a third year?

While the National Women’s Soccer League is in its off-season and Canada’s Northern Super League gears up for its inaugural kickoff, Europe’s women’s soccer scene is heating up.

On Friday, the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) quarterfinal and semifinal draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for an intense knockout phase.

As Europe’s premier club competition, the UWCL brings together immense talent, all battling for the continent’s most coveted trophy. This year, defending champion Barcelona, led by Pere Romeu, aims for a third consecutive title. Meanwhile, England boasts nearly half the quarterfinal field, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all in the mix. Powerhouses Lyon and Wolfsburg are also in contention, hungry to dethrone Barcelona after past heartbreaks.

So, who’s facing off on the road to Lisbon, and which matchups promise the most spark? Here’s everything you need to know about the draw and what’s next in the tournament.

Quick hits

• While Barcelona currently holds the title, Arsenal, Lyon and Wolfsburg are also former champions.

• Real Madrid have made the quarters once before, while Bayern Munich and Man City are past top-four contestants. Chelsea is a former runner-up.

• England is the first country to have three teams in the last eight in the same campaign.

• Lyon and Arsenal hold the joint record for most quarterfinal appearances with 16.

How the draw and knockout stage works

The top two teams from each of the four UWCL groups were involved in Friday’s quarterfinal draw.

The quarterfinal draw rules state that group winners must be drawn against runners-up from a different group (no country protection). The runners-up will play the first leg at home and the second leg away. The results from the group stage are as follows:

TEAMS: (group winner, runner-up)

Group A: Lyon, Wolfsburg

Group B: Chelsea, Real Madrid

Group C: Arsenal, Bayern Munich

Group D: Barcelona, Manchester City

For administrative reasons, the semifinal draw also took place Friday to determine the “home” team. The tournament final will be held at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on May 24. 

In the quarter and semifinals, matches that are tied after 180 minutes will go to extra time, irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away. If extra time cannot determine a winner, a penalty shootout will take place.

QUARTERFINALS

First leg: March 18/19

Second leg: March 26/27

SEMIFINALS

First leg: April 19/20

Second leg: April 26/27

Matches at-a-glance

Real Madrid vs. Arsenal

The first drawn quarterfinal features two teams looking to step out of the shadows. Real Madrid plays second fiddle to Barcelona in Liga F, while Arsenal has struggled to surpass Chelsea’s dominance in the Women’s Super League. This matchup presents an opportunity for one of them to make a statement and push towards European glory.

Real Madrid boasts an exciting mix of youth and experience, headlined by 19-year-old superstar Linda Caicedo, clinical forward Signe Brunn and seasoned left-back Olga Carmona. However, if Alberto Toril’s side hopes to advance, they must sharpen their finishing. In their group-stage clash against Chelsea in December, Madrid managed just three shots on target while wasting 12 off-target attempts in a 2-1 defeat. At this stage of the tournament, efficiency in front of goal is crucial — opportunities will be limited, and they must capitalize when they arise.

Meanwhile, Arsenal endured a rocky start to their campaign, suffering a 5-2 loss to Bayern Munich on opening day. However, they rebounded to defeat the Germans 3-2 in the return leg to top Group C. That resilience speaks volumes about Arsenal’s character and ability to fight back. With the arrival of Renee Slegers as head coach in January and key players like Leah Williamson and Beth Mead returning from ACL injuries over the past while, the Gunners have renewed energy. Big names like Katie McCabe and Mariona Caldentey add grit and agility, which will be crucial against Real Madrid’s sometimes shaky backline. Arsenal’s best strategy? Disrupt Madrid’s possession-based game and force mistakes in transition.

Manchester City vs. Chelsea

The second quarterfinal is a fierce English showdown. Chelsea enters the knockout stage with significant reinforcements, having secured Keira Walsh from Barcelona and Naomi Girma from the NWSL for a record $1.1 million fee — a power move that further cements their dominance. Yet, despite their domestic success (eight English titles since 2015), European silverware has remained few and far between. Could this be the year Sonia Bompastor achieves what former coach Emma Hayes couldn’t?

Chelsea will have to navigate this quarterfinal without Canadian centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan, who is sidelined with an ACL tear. However, fellow Canuck Ashley Lawrence will anchor the defence with her pace, strength and ability to build from the back. Keep an eye on Guro Reiten — the dynamic winger has been in blistering form this season, delivering goals and assists consistently.

Manchester City, returning to the UWCL quarterfinals for the first time since 2020-21, made a statement by beating Barcelona at home before falling to them in Spain in leg two. However, Chelsea is a thorn in City’s side in domestic play, and City will be without key players Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp due to knee injuries.

One wildcard for Gareth Taylor’s squad is Brazilian forward Kerolin, who signed a blockbuster deal in January. Quick, creative and physically imposing, she could be the X-factor that City needs to break down Chelsea’s disciplined formation. While City’s possession-based style is effective, they sometimes lack aggression, which they’ll need to amplify this time around. As underdogs, City has little to lose, which could allow them to play with freedom and unpredictability.

Wolfsburg vs. Barcelona

Wolfsburg’s heart would have dropped when they drew Barcelona at this stage of the competition. Not only is Barcelona chasing a third straight title, but they also have the chance to match Lyon’s record of five straight finals and three consecutive crowns. Barça is hungry, determined and relentless in their pursuit of history.

With back-to-back Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmatí (2023, 2024) and Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) leading the charge, Barcelona is brimming with talent. Bonmatí’s composure and intelligence in midfield complement Putellas’ leadership and pinpoint accuracy to form a deadly duo.

Wolfsburg, however, is no stranger to deep UWCL runs. After missing out on the group stage last season, Tommy Stroot’s side returned with a vengeance, aiming to replicate their 2022-23 final appearance. Leading the charge is veteran striker Alexandra Popp, who has been lethal in front of goal, alongside Swedish forward Rebecka Blomqvist, who has provided key attacking support.

The German side thrives in breaking tight presses through smart movement and excels in aerial duels and set pieces. However, Barcelona’s possession-based approach and ability to control tight spaces make them formidable opponents. For Wolfsburg to pull off an upset, they must remain mentally resilient.

Bayern Munich vs. Lyon

Like Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich faces a daunting quarterfinal clash against Lyon, the most decorated team in UWCL history. Joe Montemurro’s squad has been clinical in the competition so far, winning all six of their group-stage matches, and remains an intimidating force despite losing in the final to Barcelona last season.

Lyon thrives on high pressing, direct attacking and quick transitions. Canadian centre-back Vanessa Gilles anchors the backline with her strength and aerial prowess, while Lindsey Horan centres the midfield and provides the footing for Lyon’s offensive surges to dictate tempo and exploit defensive gaps in opponents.

However, Bayern has a game-changer of their own — Denmark’s all-time top scorer Pernille Harder. Versatile and technically gifted, Harder can operate across multiple attacking roles, making her a constant threat. Moreover, Bayern’s Frauen-Bundesliga triumph in 2023-24, where they edged out Wolfsburg, proves they can handle high-pressure scenarios.

The last time these sides met in the UWCL was in the 2021 group stage, where they split results (Lyon won the first leg 2-1, and Bayern took a 1-0 victory in the return game). Can the German club match or better that performance this time around? They have the tools with their disciplined structure and attacking firepower, but execution will be key.

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