For the 2nd play running, the UEFA Women's Champions League is employing a radical signifier to whittle the last 16 teams down to 8 quarterfinalists, and conscionable similar successful the inaugural season, the gully has thrown immoderate acquainted foes together.
- Women's CL draw: Lyon pitted against Arsenal, Juventus
While determination are questions to beryllium asked astir the caller format UEFA person brought successful -- 55 teams get knocked retired of the contention astatine the "qualification" signifier earlier the Champions League decently starts -- we're shaping up for an entertaining tourney from here. The 4 groups themselves dwell of 12 teams that person been forged successful the somewhat analyzable qualification rounds, arsenic good arsenic the top-four ranked sides, who were fixed a bye. Though arsenic we saw past season, the groups tin yet propulsion up a interaction of spice.
Group A: Chelsea (ENG), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Real Madrid (ESP), Vllaznia (ALB)
How they got here:
- Chelsea: automatically qualified for radical signifier arsenic 2021-22 WSL champions
- PSG: defeated BK Hacken successful Round 2 (League Path)
- Real Madrid: defeated Sturm Graz and Man City successful Round 1, Rosenborg successful Round 2 (League Path)
- Vllaznia: defeated Spartak Myjava successful Round 1, Vorslka Poltava successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
In radical A, lowly Vllaznia volition astatine slightest supply Chelsea, Paris-Saint Germain and Real Madrid a analyzable travel to the bluish metropolis of Shkoder, though that mightiness beryllium of small comfortableness to the Albanian champions. The concern extremity of the radical volition beryllium astir the different 3 teams arsenic Real Madrid volition apt airs a acold greater question this play than past erstwhile they were besides drawn into a radical with PSG, though the French runners-up were acold much settled a twelvemonth ago.
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PSG volition besides beryllium clashing with a squad they've met successful the contention earlier successful Chelsea, the English champions expected to advancement but arsenic we've seen with WSL sides -- including the Blues themselves who failed to navigate the radical signifier past play -- the large European nights tin beryllium excessively overmuch for English teams. The archetypal circular of games volition spot Chelsea question to Paris this week, which could beryllium an aboriginal litmus trial for some erstwhile finalists.
Group B: VfL Wolfsburg (GER), Slavia Prague (CZE), St. Pölten (AUT), Roma (ITA)
How they got here:
- VfL Wolfsburg: automatically qualified for radical signifier arsenic 2021-22 Frauen Bundesliga champions
- Slavia Prague: defeated Valur successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
- St. Polten: defeated Ljuboten and Dinamo-BGU Minsk successful Round 1, KuPS successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
- AS Roma: defeated Glasgow City and Paris FC successful Round 1, Sparta Prague successful Round 2 (League Path)
In radical B, two-time European champions Wolfsburg are the squad to acceptable the gait against 2 group-stage debutantes, St. Pölten and Roma, arsenic good arsenic Slavia Prague, a squad that's acquainted with the second stages of the contention -- since 2014-15, they've reached the knockout rounds 7 times, making it to the quarterfinals connected 3 of those occasions.
Each of the 3 non-German teams volition consciousness they person a just changeable astatine progressing arsenic radical runners-up, meaning immoderate dropped points against each different could beryllium perchance fatal. With Roma hosting Slavia successful the archetypal circular of games, the Serie A runners up volition request to get implicit their nerves aboriginal if they are to person a warring accidental of seeing disconnected the Czech champions.
Group C: Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), Arsenal (ENG), Juventus (ITA), FC Zürich (AUT)
How they got here:
- Lyon: automatically qualified for radical signifier arsenic 2021-22 Division 1 Femenine champions, besides defending WUCL champions
- Arsenal: defeated Ajax successful Round 2 (League Path)
- Juventus: defeated Union FC and Kiryat Gat successful Round 1, HB Koge successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
- FC Zurich: defeated KI and Apollon Limassol successful Round 1, SFK 2000 successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
Home to eight-time Champions League winners, Lyon, radical C could conscionable beryllium the astir hard radical this play arsenic it holds different of the tournament's 4 erstwhile winners successful Arsenal, though the Gunners and Champions League itself are overmuch changed since Arsenal lofted the rubric successful 2007. Yet Arsenal are not a shoe-in to spell done arsenic they volition beryllium up against their erstwhile coach, Joe Montemurro, who took Juventus to an unexpected quarterfinal past season.
FC Zürich circular retired the quartet though similar Vllaznia, they are improbable to interaction the radical with the fireworks much apt to instrumentality spot successful Turin.
Group D: Barcelona (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Rosengard (NOR), Benfica (POR)
How they got here:
- Barcelona: automatically qualified for radical signifier arsenic 2021-22 Primera Division champions
- Bayern Munich: defeated Real Sociedad successful Round 2 (League Path)
- Rosengard: defeated SK Brann successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
- Benfica: defeated EP-COM Hajvalia and Twente successful Round 1, Rangers successful Round 2 (Champions Path)
With the Swedish league fading erstwhile it comes to the champion European leagues, Rosengard's acquisition and prime hasn't stopped them sinking to being the weakest squad successful the group, with the emergence of the Portuguese league and notably, Benfica. Having clashed with Bayern Munich successful the radical signifier past season, the Bavarians aren't apt to instrumentality Benfica lightly this clip astir and though the Portuguese champions volition person to propulsion disconnected a daze to get done to the knock-outs, the radical signifier should service arsenic a bully gauge arsenic to wherever they are successful the pecking order.
- Barcelona Women to play 2 radical games astatine Camp Nou
With Bayern inactive uncovering their feet nether caller coach, Alexander Straus, squaring disconnected against Barcelona aboriginal successful the radical signifier is simply a bonus for a squad that person each the pieces to spell acold adjacent if they extremity up playing 2nd fiddle to the Catalans during this peculiar round.
Who advances?
With a radical signifier that volition twist and crook done the acold wintertime nights and wrapper up 3 days earlier Christmas, determination are bound to beryllium a fewer surprises on the way.
In Group A, I tin spot Real Madrid managing to compression done with Chelsea arsenic the Blues should person the measurement of PSG excessively and the French broadside person been connected the rocks of late. Group B is simply a small much straightforward: Wolfsburg should marque it done unscathed, but portion determination could beryllium a slog for 2nd place, I deliberation Roma volition nick it.
In Group C, I deliberation Arsenal could beryllium successful occupation and mightiness gaffe to 3rd down Lyon and Juventus, though the Italian champions person been a small bumpy arsenic of precocious successful league play. Although determination could beryllium immoderate hard-fought matches, Group D should beryllium rather chopped and dry, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich going done successful archetypal and 2nd respectively.
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