Women's Champions League Draw: Man City Faces Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea Learn Opponents

Manchester City in Women's Champions League Group Stage

Manchester City is gearing up for an exciting first group-stage match in the prestigious Women's Champions League against none other than the Champions League holders, Barcelona. This marks a significant moment for the team as they transition from knockout rounds, where they've competed previously, to the broader group stage format introduced in the 2021/22 season.

Group Stage Draw Details

In the recent draw held in Nyon, Gareth Taylor's side found themselves placed in Group D. The group also includes formidable teams like SKN St Polten and Hammarby, making it a challenging yet thrilling competition for the City squad. This draw showcases the increasing competitiveness of women's football on the European stage.

Other Notable Groupings

Meanwhile, the WSL champions, Chelsea, will have their work cut out in Group B, which includes Celtic, a historic landmark as they become the first Scottish team to qualify for this stage of the tournament. Chelsea will also face strong contenders such as Real Madrid and FC Twente.

Arsenal, another representative from the WSL, secured their group stage spot with a convincing 4-0 win against Hacken, overcoming a first-leg deficit. They will compete in Group C, alongside top-tier teams like Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Norwegians Valerenga.

Women's Champions League Groups Overview

• GROUP A: Lyon, Wolfsburg, Roma, Galatasaray
• GROUP B: Chelsea, Real Madrid, FC Twente, Celtic
• GROUP C: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Juventus, Valerenga
• GROUP D: Barcelona, Man City, SKN St Polten, Hammarby

Match Schedule

The Champions League group stage kicks off on October 8, with matchdays slated to conclude by December 18. The schedule for the matches is as follows:

1. Matchday 1: October 8 & 9
2. Matchday 2: October 16 & 17
3. Matchday 3: November 12 & 13
4. Matchday 4: November 20 & 21
5. Matchday 5: December 11 & 12

Closing Thoughts

With the stage set for a thrilling display of football from the best women's teams in Europe, fans are eagerly anticipating the fierce competitions that lie ahead. The inclusion of teams like Celtic at this level signifies the growing popularity and development of women's football, promising exciting matches this season.