Arsenal โFaces challenging Champions League Defense in New Format
NYON, switzerland – Reigning champion Arsenal will begin its Women’s Champions League title defense against a formidable group including โrecordโ eight-time winner OL Lyon, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, โขas the competition launches โa new league-phase format. Theโ draw,completed Friday,alsoโ revealed a challenging path forโ Barcelona,which has โคreached the past fiveโฃ finals and won three,pittingโ them against Chelsea – whom they defeated in theโ 2021 final โ- andโ Bayern Munich.
The revamped โ18-team competition shifts from โa traditionalโค knockoutโข structure to a league phase, offering more matches and increased exposure for Europe’s top women’s clubs. โคteams will play โsix matches โeach,โค with the topโ four advancing โdirectly toโ the quarterfinals, โteams ranked fifth through twelfth entering a knockout playoff round, and the bottom six being eliminated.A total prize money fund of 18.2 million euros ($21.4 โmillion) will beโข distributed, with each team receiving a base payment of 505,000 euros ($594,000) plus bonuses for results and advancement.
Bayern Munich also landed Paris Saint-Germain โalongside Arsenal and Barcelona, creatingโ one โof the toughest groups. Chelsea will face both Barcelona and Wolfsburg, a two-time champion. Champions League debutant Manchester united will contend withโค OL Lyon, Wolfsburg, PSG, andโข juventus.โ Newcomer OH Leuven of Belgium will play both Arsenalโค and Barcelona.
The league phase is scheduled to begin on october 7 and conclude on December 17. The competition also boasts a new broadcast deal with Disney+ through the 2030 season, with โselect games also airing on free-to-airโ national networks.