Photorealistic depiction of the UEFA Women's Champions League knockout draw ceremony in Nyon, highlighting English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United clashes.
Photorealistic depiction of the UEFA Women's Champions League knockout draw ceremony in Nyon, highlighting English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United clashes.
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Women's Champions League knockout draw sets English clashes

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The UEFA Women's Champions League knockout phase draw has pitted defending champions Arsenal against OH Leuven in the play-offs, with Chelsea awaiting the winner in the quarter-finals. Manchester United will face Atletico Madrid, potentially leading to a meeting with Bayern Munich. The draw, conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, outlines the path to the final in Oslo on May 23, 2026.

The knockout phase draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Women's Champions League took place on December 18, 2025, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. Conducted by final ambassador Maren Mjelde and UEFA managing director of women's football Nadine Kessler, it established the bracket from February's play-offs through to the May final at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

In the play-offs, set for first legs on February 11/12 and second legs on February 18/19, Arsenal will rematch OH Leuven after a 3-0 league phase victory on December 17, 2025, that secured fifth place. As seeded teams, Arsenal and Manchester United will host second legs. United, debutants finishing sixth, face Atletico Madrid following a 1-0 win in October. Other ties include Paris FC versus Real Madrid and Wolfsburg versus Juventus.

Quarter-finals, scheduled for March 24/25 and April 1/2, feature direct qualifiers Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. Chelsea, third in the league phase after a 2-1 win at Wolfsburg, will host the second leg against the Arsenal-Leuven winner, setting up a potential all-English clash. Bayern await the United-Atletico victor, Barcelona face the Paris FC-Real Madrid winner—possibly an El Clasico—and OL Lyonnes meet the Wolfsburg-Juventus outcome.

Semi-finals follow on April 25/26 and May 2/3, with the bracket dividing into paths: one pitting the Bayern quarter-final winner against Barcelona's, the other Chelsea's against Lyon's. The top four—Barcelona (1st), OL Lyonnes (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Bayern (4th)—bypassed play-offs, while fifth to 12th compete for the remaining spots.

What people are saying

Discussions on X highlight excitement over potential all-English quarter-final clash between defending champions Arsenal and Chelsea, if Arsenal overcome recent opponents OH Leuven in play-offs. Manchester United supporters express optimism about facing Atletico Madrid, citing a prior league-phase win, with a possible Bayern Munich quarter-final. Journalists and official accounts neutrally shared the full knockout bracket and paths to the Oslo final. Some Chelsea fans voiced skepticism about the draw favoring Arsenal-Leuven rematch.

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UEFA has set the dates and 20:00 BST kick-off times for all 2025/26 Champions League quarter-final ties, as eight teams advance toward the Budapest final. Matchups feature Liverpool against holders Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal versus Sporting CP, Barcelona facing Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich taking on Real Madrid. Liverpool aim for revenge after last season's penalty shootout loss to PSG.

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The 2025/26 Champions League semi-finals pit Arsenal against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain versus Bayern Munich, with all matches kicking off at 20:00 BST. Arsenal advanced after holding off Sporting, while Atletico Madrid overcame Barcelona. PSG, the holders, ousted Liverpool, and Bayern progressed past Real Madrid.

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