It's the third matchday of the women’s Champions League, with big fixtures ahead.From Lyon v Wolfsburg’s historic showdown to Arsenal’s trip to Bayern and Barcelona’s unstoppable charge — every fixture tells a story of ambition, resilience, and European pride.
Roma v Vålerenga
Both sides are seeking their first points when they meet in Rome. Neither side has had a good start to the competition, but they have likely faced their most brutal competition in the league.
Roma have endured a difficult start, losing 6-2 at Real Madrid and 4-0 at home to Barcelona, while Vålerenga have also suffered narrow defeats to Manchester United (1-0) and Wolfsburg (2-1).
Roma started last season’s group stage with two wins before failing to advance. Vålerenga have lost four of their last five UWCL away matches.
Roma will want to capitalise on their ability to pass through the spaces in their opponents' back three. The Norwegian side will rely on a structured counter-attack and physical midfield presence.
Real Madrid v Paris FC
Real Madrid have started well, with six points and at the top of the league, including their league nemesis, Barcelona. They beat Roma 6-2 and PSG 2-1. Paris FC have not been on the front foot; they collapsed a 2-0 lead to a 2-2 draw with OH Leuven, and then lost 4-0 to Chelsea, and are under pressure.
Paris FC won both group matches in 2022/23, their only UWCL wins to date.
Tactically, Madrid will try to use wide attacking players and high pressing to unsettle Paris FC; Paris FC may opt to sit compact and look for counter-chances. Head-to-head shows Paris FC has beaten Madrid in the last cycle, which is a practical context if you want to highlight the threat of a Paris FC upset.
St Polten v Chelsea
Chelsea travel to Austria seeking a second consecutive UWCL win after an underwhelming 1-1 draw to Twente and a 4-0 home victory over Paris FC.
Sonia Bompastor highlighted, “Control, tempo, and efficiency in both boxes will decide this match.” She confirmed that Hannah Hampton is out with a quad injury, is still being assessed, and is not in the travelling squad, while Guro Reiten is on parental leave. Lauren James has returned to the squad.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 20 group-stage UWCL matches. St. Pölten have lost 11 straight in the group phase.
Expect Chelsea to press high, using Cuthbert and Walsh to dictate play; St. Pölten may defend deep and look for Maťavková’s pace on the counter.
St. Polten are competing in the Women’s Champions League main draw for the third consecutive season after successfully negotiating their way through qualifying.
The Austrian champions saw off Neftchi Baku and Vllaznia in single-leg ties, before they eased to an 8-0 aggregate victory over ZNK Mura to advance to the inaugural League Phase.
Laurent Fassotte’s side have found life much tougher in the main draw, having fallen to heavy defeats in their opening two games.
They slumped to a 6-0 home loss against Atletico Madrid, before they were comfortably beaten 3-0 in their away meeting with record European champions Lyon.
As a result, St. Polten are the only team in the League Phase to have lost their first two matches without troubling the scorers.
Their task will not get any easier in Wednesday’s clash against Chelsea, especially as they will be in a downbeat mood following their 2-1 defeat to Austria Wien in the last 16 of the OFB Frauen Cup.
Lyon v Wolfsburg
This fixture is a UWCL rivalry classic that has spanned years, with many finals and trophies decided between these two sides. This will be their 11th meeting, having met in four finals.
Before, Lyon was dominant overall, including three Champions League finals, and has a current run of six straight wins vs Wolfsburg in this tie. Both sides were perfect through the first two matchdays, making this a high-stakes top-of-the-group meeting. Tactically, Lyon usually controls via possession and wide overloads, while Wolfsburg bring direct transitions, physicality and set-piece threat. Historical context is important: Wendie Renard’s longevity in these fixtures and Lyon’s finals pedigree offer narrative weight.
Barcelona v OH Leuven
Barcelona are three-time champions and have started the league phase with two commanding wins (7-1 v Bayern, 4-0 v Roma), scoring freely and conceding very little; they have won all 13 of their previous group-stage home matches. Leuven are debutants in the league phase and have adapted well, earning a draw with Paris FC and a late win over Twente. Barcelona will be heavy favourites: expect a high possession game, quick interchanges in the half-spaces and heavy use of the flanks from the likes of Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen and Esmée Brugts. Leuven will likely defend in numbers and look to exploit moments on the counter. Still, the gap in levels suggests Barcelona should win comfortably, with the likely absences of Patri Guijarro and Salma Paralluelo, both out with injuries.
Bayern Munich v Arsenal
This is a heavyweight fixture: Arsenal are the defending UWCL champions and will visit Bayern, which has recovered domestically from a heavy opening defeat to Barcelona and boasts attacking firepower. Last season Bayern beat Arsenal 5-2 in Munich while Arsenal later edged Bayern 3-2 at home on their way to the title, so recent history suggests goals and drama. Bayern’s home attacking strength versus Arsenal’s well-organised pressing and European experience make this an even matchup.
José Barcala: “Arsenal are really good in transition. We need to win the ball back quickly in those situations and be effective in getting in the way. We need to play as a compact and organised team and take our own chances in transition. We’re expecting them to press very high at times, so we need to be tactically mature and emotionally sound on the pitch. We’ll try to be dominant when possible.”
Arsenal’s Katie Reid (ACL) is out; Russo and Mead are fit. Renée Slegers said, “We respect Bayern but must play our football.” Bayern coach José Barcala emphasised intensity and home advantage. Bayern have won both previous home meetings with Arsenal; Arsenal have won just one of 10 away games in Germany. Bayern rely on early crosses and a high press; Arsenal’s wide rotations and link play through Russo and Maanum will be key.
Benfica v Twente
Benfica are yet to collect a point in the group after defeats to Juventus and Arsenal; Twente have one point from a draw with Chelsea and a late defeat to Leuven. Historically, Benfica have an edge in recent qualifying meetings with Twente, but the pair are close on form, and this fixture looks finely balanced. Benfica tend to press high at home but can be vulnerable in transition; Twente will look to exploit that with direct wide play and runs in behind.
Atletico Madrid v Juventus
Atlético followed an emphatic win at St. Pölten with a narrow home defeat to Manchester United; Juventus also have three points after beating Benfica but lost narrowly to Bayern. This is Atlético’s first meeting with an Italian opponent in club competition, which gives an intriguing tactical mismatch: Atlético’s typical wide speed and press versus Juventus’ organised Italian defensive structure and reliance on quick transitions and set-pieces
Atleti’s pace on the wings will stretch Juve’s compact block. Expect a tight contest decided by set pieces.
Manchester United v PSG
Manchester United have started the league phase with two 1-0 wins, showing a pragmatic, compact style that grinds out results. PSG, by contrast, are yet to pick up a point and need goals and composure; Mary Earps faces her former club in goal for United in a subplot worth mentioning. United’s pressing and transition play against PSG’s need to find an attacking rhythm makes this a compelling tactical duel. Marc Skinner said, “We’ve learned quickly in Europe, we’re here to stay.” Mary Earps will play on home soil for the first time since her England retirement and book. She will face her former club, which she left in the summer of 2024
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