The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) knockout stage gets underway this week with both Arsenal and Chelsea aiming to become the first English team to bring it home since the Gunners in 2007
Arsenal beat Umea of Sweden in the 2007 final when the tournament was still known as the UEFA Women’s Cup before it was rebranded as the Champions League in 2009, with a group stage being introduced last season.
The two teams have so far represented the English Women’s Super League (WSL) well as they romped to top spot in their respective groups this season. Arsenal did it in style thumping reigning European champions Lyon 5-1 away in France.
Arsenal will be looking to do better against Bayern Munich after they beat close rivals Chelsea 3-1 locally to lift the English League Cup earlier this month. The Gunners will be hoping to avoid another quarter-final exit in the hands of a Germany opponent after they got eliminated by Wolfsburg last season.
Bayern will have divided focus as they trail Wolfsburg by two points at the top of the Frauen Bundesliga. Their crunch meeting with Wolfsburg in the local league falls either side of the two legs against Arsenal.
How to watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgii5f9u4YgXCeubCozbEA
On Wednesday Chelsea head to France to play a Lyon side that has won the Champions League six times in the last seven seasons and a record eight times overall. Chelsea come into this match confident of completing a French double after beating Paris Saint-Germain home and away in the group stage, keeping a clean sheet in both games. The Blues are currently top of the WSL, two points above both Manchester United and Manchester City with Arsenal fourth and five points behind the leaders.
Chelsea have a secret weapon in Australia’s Sam Kerr who is regarded as one of the most dangerous forwards in the world. Lyon are hoping to be a different team to the one beaten by Arsenal in October last year after they had a lot of injuries. The French side managed to qualify for the quarter-finals with injuries in their camp and with a clean health bill they can compete with any team.
Lyon forward Signe Bruun, who had a spell at Manchester United last season believes the rising threat from English teams in Europe is a good sign to women’s football development. She said this is a healthy situation because it ensures that there is no single dominant team in the Champions League as many teams can compete.
How to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwXPTdflJDM
Last season’s losing finalists Barcelona have continued with their fine run crushing opponents in Liga F despite the absence of injured skipper and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and cruised through to the UWCL quarter-finals where they will face Roma.
How to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2GyJbOWsCw
Wolfsburg, who have been to five finals in the last decade, will be facing PSG in the quarter-finals with their hopes of advancing against the French side dashed after Germany midfield star Lena Oberdorf suffered a sprained knee injury which ruled her out of Wednesday’s first leg. Despite the setback Wolfsburg will be motivated by the fact that they have failed to score in only two of their last 19 UWCL quarter final matches.
How to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzWicEbqB5w
Fixtures (Tuesday): Bayern Munich (GER) vs Arsenal (ENG); Roma (ITA) vs Barcelona (ESP)
Fixtures (Wednesday): Lyon (FRA) vs Chelsea (ENG); Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) vs Wolfsburg (GER)
First match of the day will kick off at 18:45 CET and the second match at 21:00 CET
