Manchester City will play back-to-back winners Barcelona in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League (UWCL) while Arsenal face Frauen-Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Chelsea have been drawn alongside Real Madrid for a third successive season, while record eight-time champions Lyon will play 2023 beaten finalists Wolfsburg.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are joined in Group C by Juventus, who secured their qualification for this season’s group stage by eliminating Paris Saint-Germain. Norwegian champions Valerenga, making their group-stage debut, complete the group.
Chelsea will also play group-stage debutants Twente and Celtic in Group B, with the latter becoming the first Scottish side to qualify for this stage of the competition since the format was introduced in 2021.
Completing Group D alongside Barcelona and Manchester City are Austrian champions St. Polten and Hammarby of Sweden, who are making their first appearance in the competition.
Lyon and Wolfsburg, both Champions League runners up in the last two seasons, are joined in Group A by Serie A champions Roma and competitions debutants Galatasaray — the first Turkish side to reach the Women’s Champions League group stages.
The group stage gets underway on October 8 and the full fixture schedule will be confirmed on Saturday.
Barcelona are the defending champions after their 2-0 victory over Lyon in last season’s final. They are vying to become just the second team after Lyon to win the competition three years in a row.
This 2024-25 campaign is the final season of the Women’s Champions League in its existing format, with the competition reverting to on 18-team ‘league phase’ from next year.
Women’s Champions League group stage draw 2024-25
Group A: Lyon, Wolfsburg, Roma, Galatasaray
Group B: Chelsea, Real Madrid, FC Twente, Celtic
Group C: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Juventus, Valerenga
Group D: Barcelona, Manchester City, St. Polten, Hammarby
Arsenal face tough task, Chelsea receive favourable draw
Analysis from Michael Cox
Manchester City have been drawn against holders Barcelona in Group D — but in terms of progressing from the group stage, it is probably Arsenal who have the toughest task of the three English sides.
The key from the draw was avoiding the two Italian sides in Pot 3. Champions Roma were drawn into Group A, the only group without an English side, but Juventus were drawn alongside Bayern Munich and Arsenal in Group C.
Arsenal and Juve were also drawn together in Group C two seasons ago, with the two matches producing a 1-0 Arsenal win in London and a 1-1 draw in Turin. Juventus may be stronger this time around — they secured their qualification for the group stage with a surprise 5-2 aggregate victory over PSG, who are usually amongst the contenders to win this competition.
Chelsea will be happy with their draw — they finished ahead of Real Madrid in last season’s group stage, while matches against Celtic and Twente should be relatively straightforward.
Women’s Champions League 2024-25 dates
- Matchday 1: October 8/9
- Matchday 2: October 16/17
- Matchday 3: November 12/13
- Matchday 4: November 20/21
- Matchday 5: December 11/12
- Matchday 6: December 17/18
- Quarter-final and semi-final draw: February 7
- Quarter-final first leg: March 18/19
- Quarter-final second leg: March 26/27
- Semi-final first leg: April 19/20
- Semi-final second leg: April 26/27
- Final: May 23, 24 or 25
(Ramsey Cardy – Sportsfile/UEFA via Getty Images)
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