This week kicks off a transformed Women’s Champions League, an 18-team league phase where there are no second chances, no return legs, and every point counts. Some of the biggest clubs will meet early in this brutal new format, reigniting rivalries and rewriting narratives. Below are four fixtures you cannot miss, not just for the stars on paper but for the stories, the history, and the drama they promise.
Arsenal v Lyon
In their head-to-head record, Lyon historically led (6 wins to Arsenal’s 2, with one draw), but in recent years, Arsenal has closed the gap. With the new format, there’s no second leg to return; this match will set the tone.
These two sides met in the semi-finals last year. Lyon got the upper hand in the first leg at the Emirates, winning 2-1. It seemed all lost for the gooners, but they went to Lyon and won 4-1, shocking everyone to make it to the final and win against Barca.
Arsenal made some big moves over the summer, making money for Olivia Smith in a million-dollar deal. They made Chloe Kelly's deal permanent. Their WSL form has been patchy lately, dropping points and goals. They started well, scoring nine goals in two games, thrashing West Ham and London City Lionesses, but have fallen to harder oppositions with a 0-0 draw to United, drawing 1-1 to Aston Villa due to letting in a stoppage time equaliser and most recently lost 3-2 to Manchester City. They lack urgency in front of the goal.
Lyon, however, has been in fine form, winning 6-1 against PSG and most recently 8-1 against Lens. They raided European rivals, bringing in PSG’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Germany’s Jule Brand, and USWNT talents Korbin Schrader and Lily Yohannes. The biggest signing, though, was on the touchline. Former Barcelona boss Jonatan Giráldez, who led the Catalans to back-to-back titles, returned to Europe to take charge.
Arsenal’s recent defensive fragility could be an issue. Lyon’s challenge is coordinating their relatively new squad under a new coach, but their attacking firepower gives them an edge.
Lyon v Barcelona
Two powerhouse clubs, two contrasting paths. Lyon is rebuilding under new leadership, investing heavily to reclaim continental dominance. Barcelona, meanwhile, seek to extend its period of consistency and superiority. Their frequent UCL finals and domestic dominance place immense pressure on them to perform, and clashes against Lyon always carry weight. A match like this in this new league structure could separate title contenders from pretenders. Expect attacking football, high stakes, and top-tier tactical battles. These two have faced off many times in the final for this title, most recently Barca winning the tie in the final of 2024.
Chelsea v Barcelona
This is a rivalry steeped in pain and ambition. These two have faced each other in the knockout stages in the last four years. Chelsea have repeatedly fallen at Barcelona’s hands in UCL knockouts, notably a crushing 4-1 loss at Stamford Bridge in the 2025 semi-final, part of an 8-2 aggregate defeat. Barça has been a European standard, but cracks emerge in financial constraints and squad depth issues, giving Chelsea the slimmest of windows. In this new one-leg format, there’s no margin for error, no safety net. With big summer signings and Sam Kerr returning, Chelsea will finally look to rewrite the script. With its core of world-class players, Barcelona cannot afford to slip.
Sonia Bompastor, this match is about exorcising ghosts. She has beaten them before; she is the only woman to have won the title as a player and manager. The side needs to forget about history and the past.
Chelsea arrive unbeaten domestically, strengthened by Ellie Carpenter and Alyssa Thompson, and Sam Kerr’s long-awaited return. But they face a Barcelona side led by Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Patri Guijarro, who remain the benchmark for fluid, ruthless football. Every Chelsea player knows what this means: another defeat, and that mountain of belief only gets steeper.
Manchester United v PSG
Old Trafford under the lights. Manchester United’s first-ever European night at home. The atmosphere will be electric, but it’s not just about debut nerves. It’s also about one familiar face returning: Mary Earps, United’s former captain and FA Cup-winning goalkeeper, who left the club after the new ownership’s restructuring left the women’s project in limbo. Now at PSG, she returns to Manchester as an opponent, perhaps with a point to prove.
United, led by Marc Skinner, have fought their way into the league phase through grit and belief. Ella Toone, Melvine Malard, and Elisabeth Terland carry their attacking hopes, while injuries to Millie Turner and Leah Galton could test their depth. Seasoned European contenders PSG have retooled with Olga Carmona and Rasheedat Ajibade to replace long-serving stars like Katoto and Geyoro.
This is more than a match; it's a moment of reckoning. United’s first true step onto the European stage meets the emotional homecoming of one of their greatest players. Expect noise, drama, and raw emotion. This is what Champions League nights were made for.
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