Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all in line to secure their places in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) after achieving hard-earned victories on matchday four. While the League phase introduced in the men’s Champions League is not yet in use in the female League, the well-regarded and good old-group stages saw intense games that captivated world sport and showed how much the Women’s competition has grown. English teams were at the center of these superb performances on the biggest European stage. No other union or country has replicated their success in the Champions League this season, further detailing English teams’ achievements in European football this season. They are the First Nation to have three clubs in the quarter-finals of the competition this season with two more games yet to be played.
Chelsea Women has been exceptional in England for the last six seasons under current USWNT coach Emma Hayes. Still, their successes under new head coach Sonia Bompastor are something of great promise. The West London side remains not just unbeaten this season, but has a perfect record of wins in their last eleven games. The last time they faced defeat was in the 2023/24 Champions League second-leg encounter with eventual winners Barcelona Women.
In the Champions League this season, they cemented their position at the top of Group B with a dominating 3-0 victory against Scottish side Celtic in Glasgow on Wednesday. Their UWCL campaign began with a thrilling win over Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on matchday one. However, that performance raised some concerns about their competitiveness in the League following their previous records of wins against the Spanish side during Emma Hayes’s reign. Having escaped with a narrow 3-2 win against Real Madrid, the Blues defeated Dutch side Twente Women 3-1 on Matchday two to keep their perfect record in the Women’s Champions League group stages. They’ve since maintained an unblemished record under Bompastor in both the European and domestic stages.
It has been all victories since Sonia Bompastor took charge in the Queen’s Meadow. Hopefully, she will be able to reach the one pick that was far-fetched for Emma Hayes during her impressive time with the Blues, the Champions League trophy. The Blues made it to the last two semi-finals (2022/23, 2023/24) and were eliminated by eventual Champions in both seasons – Barcelona. Having previously overcome the competition’s legends like Lyon and Wolfsburg, There is no doubt that the Spanish champions who had produced the Ballon d’Or Fèmini winners for the last four years are currently the biggest contenders and likely the team Chelsea Women would look forward to cutting past in the knockout stages.
The Chelsea Women’s team is still without some of its key players due to crucial injuries. Talented Australian striker Samanter Kerr is still sidelined from the ACL injury she picked up earlier this year while Lauren James has continued battling with a muscle strain in recent weeks. Bompastor’s ability to balance results with squad rotation has been impressive. Stars like the young Aggie Beever-Jones, Mayra Ramirez Guro Reiten, Rytting Kaneryd, and Catarina Macario have picked up pace in their absence, and make sure the Blues remain in winning form. This leaves them well-positioned to pursue their first Champions League title this season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal Women faced more challenging encounters on their path to getting into the UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout rounds. Despite achieving the goal, the North London side’s journey was anything but straightforward. Their campaign began with a humbling 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in Germany on matchday one, followed shortly by the resignation of former head coach Jonas Eidevall. The Swedish head coach who previously featured for Arsenal as a player was in charge of the Gunners women for three years, winning 49 and drawing 11 of his 70 games in charge (with a 70% win ratio). His decision was hardly influenced by his failure to replicate Arsenal’s historic success in the WSL and Champions League during his time, plus the increasing pressure and strained relationship with the board.
Renee Slegers stepped in as interim head coach just 24 hours before Arsenal’s matchday two clash against Valerenga, where they reassured fans of their expertise with a commanding 4-1 victory at the Emirates. Since then, Arsenal has been on a clear path with wonderful performances in the WSL, they have failed to lose a game since Jonas Eidevall’s departure. This includes their convincing UCL Matchday three 1-0 victory against Juventus in Biella, Italy, thanks to Lina Hurtig’s 89th-minute goal. They secured second-place qualification under Bayern Munich in Group C.
With Slegers still in charge, the team has remained unbeaten in seven matches citing a resurgence that could see the English team reach the peak they once had attained in 2007, when they won the competition. While games against Valerenga and Bayern Munich in December would be crucial, the Gunners still need a point to solidify their place in the quarterfinals and a chance to top their group standings. The future of Slegers as Arsenal’s manager remains uncertain.
Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign in style, defeating two-time reigning champions Barcelona Women 2-0 at the Joie Stadium on matchday one. On matchday two, Gareth Taylor’s team completed a late comeback to secure victory against St. Pölten Women. They kept their feet up with impressive wins in the WSL. Against Hammarby Women, Manchester City won 2-0 at home and finished the away fixture in a hard-fought 2-1 at Stockholm, thanks to Khadija Shaw’s brace.
Despite a recent WSL loss to Chelsea, which left them trailing the defending champions by a few points, City remains focused on maintaining their momentum in Europe. An upcoming away fixture against Barcelona in December could prove pivotal in deciding who claims the top spot in Group D, with the possibility of facing domestic rivals Chelsea or Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
The 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League final will be held in Lisbon at the famous Estádio José Alvalade. The top two teams from each of the four Groups will be involved in the quarter-final and semi-final draw on 7 February in Nyon. Also, all matches in the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over two legs. The 1st leg of the quarter-finals will be held on the 18th and 19th of March 2024, and the 2nd leg on the 26th and 27th of March, 2024. The semi-finals will be played two weeks later in the second and final weeks of April, and the finals will be on the 24th of May, 2024.
English teams are rarely successful in European competitions. Only Arsenal Women claimed in the competition in 2007, and almost two decades later, English teams still need to replicate the success. As the competition progresses, Chelsea’s form, Arsenal’s resilience, and Manchester City’s impressive stats set the stage for an exciting season of Champions League football. Each team is poised to leave their mark in the UWCL.
The spotlight, however, isn’t just on the pitch, but on securing Champions League final tickets that are in high demand. With the performances of English teams in the men’s and women’s Champions League, the demand for tickets has skyrocketed. While official retail sites may fall short due to limited availability and soaring demand, turning to trusted reseller platforms becomes the go-to option for swift access to the sought-after Champions League tickets.
We expect incredible performances from English contenders this season in Europe’s most competitive competition. The stats are already in their favor and hopefully, it doesn’t end on the same track they have endured for the past three decades. Secure your tickets, bring along your loved one, and be part of the fun and exceptional nights of football greatness across Europe.
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