Women’s Champions League Draw: Arsenal Faces Lyon, Chelsea to Clash with Barcelona
LONDON – The draw for the 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage has pitted defending champions Arsenal against eight-time winners OL Lyonnes, while Chelsea will face a familiar foe in Barcelona. The draw, conducted today, sets the stage for a compelling group phase beginning in October 2025.
Disney+ has secured broadcasting rights for the competition for the next five years, replacing DAZN as the European broadcaster. The top four teams in each group will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals, with teams finishing fifth through twelfth entering a play-off round in February to determine the final four quarter-finalists. The quarter-finals are scheduled to begin on March 24. The 2025-26 final will be held at ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway next May.
Arsenal’s UWCL Fixtures:
* OL Lyonnes (H) – Tuesday, October 7, 2025 – 5:45pm (BST)
* Benfica (A) - Thursday, October 16, 2025 – 8pm (BST)
* bayern Munich (A) – Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – 5:45pm (GMT)
* Real Madrid (H) – Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
* FC Twente (H) – Tuesday, December 9, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
* OH Leuven (A) – Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
Arsenal will look to build on their 5-3 aggregate semi-final win against Lyon last season, though thay face a challenging trip to Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s UWCL Fixtures:
* FC Twente (A) – Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – 5:45pm (BST)
* Paris FC (H) - Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 8pm (BST)
* St Polten (A) – Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - 8pm (GMT)
* Barcelona (H) - Thursday, November 20, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
* Roma (H) – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 8pm (GMT)
* Wolfsburg (A) - Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
Chelsea will aim to overcome past defeats against Barcelona, including an 8-2 aggregate loss in a previous semi-final.
Man Utd’s UWCL Fixtures:
* Valerenga (H) – Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 8pm (BST)
* Atletico Madrid (A) – Thursday, October 16, 2025 – 5:45pm (BST)
* PSG (H) – Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – 8pm (GMT)
* Wolfsburg (A) - Wednesday, November 19 - 5:45pm (GMT)
* Lyonnes (H) – Wednesday, 10 – 8pm (GMT)
* Juventus (A) - Wednesday, December 17 – 8pm (GMT)
Manchester United will host OL Lyonnes again, and will also welcome PSG for a reunion with Mary Earps.
