The Women’s Champions League gets underway this week with both Chelsea and Arsenal in action.
The Gunners face reigning champions Lyon, who are on the hunt for a record-extending ninth European crown. The French club have won six out of the last seven tournaments on offer but there are a handful teams that think they could have a real shot at the title this year, including the two English sides, 2021 champions Barcelona, Chelsea's opponents Paris Saint-Germain and German clubs Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.
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As the group stage commences, here is everything you need to know about matchday one.
Group A
Vllaznia vs Real Madrid
When: Thursday 20 October
Where: Loro Borici Stadium
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
When: Thursday 20 October
Where: Stade Jean-Bouin
Kick-off : 8pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Here we have two sides who will have high hopes this year. PSG won all six of their group games last time out, scoring 25 without reply. They were knocked out by eventual winners Lyon in a stunning semi-final tie.
Despite reaching the final in 2021, Chelsea surprisingly crashed out at the group stage last season. The last time these two sides met came in a thrilling quarter-final clash in 2018-19 as the Blues progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
Both teams boast exciting and world-class players. PSG have winger Lieke Martens who arrived from Barcelona in the summer, former Blues star Ramona Bachmann and Grace Geyoro. Chelsea meanwhile have the prolific striker Sam Kerr as well as the impactful talents of Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby.
Group B
Wolfsburg vs St Polten
When: Thursday 20 October
Where: AOK Stadion
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Roma vs Slavia Prague
When: Thursday 20 October
Where: Stadio Domenico Francioni
Kick-off: 8pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Group C
Zurich vs Juventus
When: Wednesday 19 October
Where: LIPO Park Schaffhausen
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Lyon vs Arsenal
When: Wednesday 19 October
Where: Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Kick-off: 8pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
What a treat this is to start the group stage action. Both clubs have more history in this competition than any others. Lyon are the only club to play 100 Champions League matches while Arsenal will join them when they face Zurich on matchday two.
Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal have evolved quickly under his stewardship and there is no doubting that this is the toughest tie his side could have to kickstart their latest European campaign. They will look to record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema in this one while also wary of the attacking strength the European champions possess - including former Gunner Danielle van de Donk.
Group D
Bayern Munich vs Rosengard
When: Wednesday 19 October
Where: FC Bayern Campus Platz 1
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
Barcelona vs Benfica
When: Wednesday 19 October
Where: Estadi Johan Cruyff
Kick-off: 8pm BST
How to watch: DAZN/DAZN YouTube
