The Women’s Champions League knockout picture is now set, with the new league-phase format delivering a bracket full of repeat matchups, heavyweight clashes and potential rivalries that could define the latter stages of the competition.
After four months of league-phase action involving 18 teams, the top four progressed directly to the quarter-finals, while those finishing between fifth and 12th entered the two-legged knockout-phase play-offs. From this stage onwards, there is no country protection, meaning teams from the same league can meet at any point.
English Clubs and the Play-Off Picture
Both Arsenal and Manchester United finished just outside the top four and must navigate the play-off round in February.
Arsenal ended the league phase in fifth place and have been drawn against OH Leuven, a side they already beat 3–0 in their final league-phase match. That win sealed Arsenal’s position and highlighted the gap in quality, but Leuven’s journey to this stage should not be overlooked. The Belgian champions are making their Champions League knockout debut, having lifted their first domestic title in 2025 and progressed through a demanding qualifying route that included victories over Rosengard and Vorskla Poltava.
Manchester United finished sixth and will face Atletico Madrid, another familiar opponent. Marc Skinner’s side beat Atletico 1–0 away from home in October thanks to Fridolina Rolfö’s first goal for the club, before showing resilience to see the game out with ten players. Atletico finished 11th overall and proved competitive in the league phase, including a 2–2 draw with Bayern Munich.
As seeded teams in the play-offs, both Arsenal and United will host the second legs. The first legs take place on February 11 or 12, with the return fixtures on February 18 or 19.
What Awaits in the Quarter-Finals
If Manchester United progress, they will face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, with the likelihood of Barcelonawaiting in the semi-finals. United supporters will note that both Lyon and Wolfsburg, who beat United comfortably in the league phase, are on opposite sides of the bracket.
Arsenal’s potential reward for beating Leuven is a quarter-final meeting with Chelsea, setting up a major all-English clash. The two clubs have never met in the Women’s Champions League, but they have played each other 56 times domestically. Arsenal have won 26 of those meetings, Chelsea 23, with seven draws. Their most recent encounter ended 1–1 at the Emirates, with Alessia Russo cancelling out an early Alyssa Thompson goal.
The rivalry has intensified in recent seasons. Arsenal defeated Chelsea in the 2023 and 2024 League Cup finals, while Chelsea ended Arsenal's run of three consecutive WSL wins with that November draw. Should they meet in Europe, it would add a new chapter to one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.
Chelsea’s Direct Route and the Wider Bracket
Unlike Arsenal and United, Chelsea progressed directly to the quarter-finals after finishing third in the league phase. Sonia Bompastor’s side will face either Arsenal or OH Leuven in the last eight.
Chelsea have avoided Barcelona’s side of the bracket and could instead face Lyon in the semi-finals, a matchup rich in narrative given Bompastor’s history with the French club. Lyon, eight-time champions, must first navigate a quarter-final against either Wolfsburg or Juventus, two sides with deep European pedigree.
Elsewhere, Barcelona, who topped the league-phase table, are favourites to reach the final from the opposite half of the draw. They will face either Paris FC or Real Madrid, two teams with recent shared history in Europe. Real and Paris FC were also grouped in the 2023–24 competition, with Paris winning both matches, while Barcelona remain the team everyone is trying to avoid.
The Format and the Road to Oslo
The new Champions League format places greater emphasis on league-phase finishing positions. The top four earn a direct quarter-final place and home advantage in the second leg, while those ranked lower must fight through the play-offs for a more challenging route.
The knockout schedule is as follows:
- Play-offs: February 11–12 and February 18–19
- Quarter-finals: March 23–25 and March 31–April 2
- Semi-finals: April 24–26 and May 1–3
- Final: May 22 or 23 at Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
With no country protection and the bracket now fixed, the path to the final is clear. What remains uncertain is who can survive it.
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