-3.png)
UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final Preview: Rivalries, Records and Road to the Final
- Grace Gunn
- Mar 18
- 6 min read
The UEFA Women’s Champions League returns with four blockbuster quarter-final ties as Europe’s elite clubs battle for a place in the semifinals.
With reigning champions, historic giants, and debut contenders all involved, the stage is set for a fascinating knockout round across two legs.
Arsenal vs Chelsea
The all-English clash between Arsenal and Chelsea promises to be one of the standout ties of the quarterfinals, as the reigning champions look to defend their title, whilst the Blues go in search for the elusive trophy.
Historically, Chelsea hold the upper hand in the head-to-head record with 12 wins compared to Arsenal’s six, alongside five draws.
However, the Gunners have enjoyed the more recent success outside the league and in crucial cup competitions, defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the 2024 League Cup final.
This season’s league meetings have also favoured the Gunners, with the two sides drawing 1-1 at the Emirates before Renee Slegers’ side secured a huge 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Sonia Bompastor’s side arrive at the quarterfinals with renewed confidence and a taste of success after lifting the Subway League Cup at the weekend, their first piece of silverware this season.
The Blues also impressed during the UWCL league phase, finishing unbeaten and emerging as one of only three teams to do so, alongside OL Lyonnes and Barcelona.
Their defensive record has been particularly impressive, conceding just three goals while scoring 20, the joint-best tally in the competition alongside Barca.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have been in formidable form, currently riding an eight-game winning streak since their last defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup semifinals back in January.
The Gunners scored 11 goals and conceded six during the league phase, but their knockout pedigree cannot be overlooked.
Arsenal are the reigning champions and historically have risen to the occasion in key European knockout matches, such as their comeback second leg semifinal victory against Lyon last season.
Much of Arsenal’s attacking threat will again fall on Alessia Russo, who currently leads the competition’s scoring charts with seven goals, whilst record signing Olivia Smith will be looking to retain her current electric form in her first UWCL campaign.
Chelsea could be boosted by the return of several key players following international duty, with the likes of Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter, potentially in contention with the Asian Cup coming to a close.
Arsenal could also welcome back their Australians, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, for the big quarterfinal clash.
However, the departure of club legend Guro Reiten removes one of the Blues’ most influential performers in London derbies.
Although Chelsea have dominated domestically in recent seasons, the Champions League has continued to evade them, making this more important than ever.
Their only final appearance came in 2021 when they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.
Arsenal, in contrast, have lifted the trophy twice and will hope their European pedigree once again proves decisive.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Few rivalries in football carry the magnitude of El Clásico.
Barcelona enter the tie as overwhelming favourites, and the statistics support that status.
The Catalan giants have won 19 of the 20 meetings between the two clubs, with Real Madrid managing just a single victory.
That lone success came last season when Madrid stunned Barcelona 3-1 away from home, with Caroline Weir playing a pivotal role in the historic win, netting a late brace.
Since then, however, Barcelona have firmly reasserted their dominance. Across their encounters in Liga F, Copa de la Reina, and Spanish Super Cup, Barca have scored 10 goals whilst shutting out the entire Madrid attack, conceding none.
One player who has consistently tormented Madrid is Alexia Putellas.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 12 goals against Real Madrid, more than the entire Madrid squad combined in the fixture’s history.
Of course, Barcelona have much stronger depth than their rivals, with attacking threats such as Claudia Pina and Ewa Pajor, who starting or off the bench, will certainly have a say across the two legs.
Real Madrid, however, possess genuine attacking threats of their own.
Caroline Weir is currently joint second in the competition’s scoring charts with five goals, whilst Linda Caicedo sits second in the assists’ rankings with four.
Barcelona’s motivation will be even stronger after last season’s UWCL final defeat to Arsenal, as they look to return to the showpiece match for what would be a remarkable sixth consecutive year.
The clash also carries significant historical implications for Madrid.
The Spanish capital side have never reached the UWCL semifinals, with the quarterfinal stage representing their best finish so far.
Barcelona’s quality makes them firm favourites, but knockout football has often delivered memorable upsets.
Could we have one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history on the cards, or will it be business as usual for the three-time UWCL winners?
Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
For Manchester United, the quarterfinal clash against Bayern Munich represents another historic milestone in their first ever Champions League campaign.
The two sides have only met on a handful of occasions, with Bayern coming out on top in all their encounters.
The German champions secured a 3-2 friendly victory in 2023 after securing a 3-0 win in the 2022 Amos Women’s French Cup.
They also prevailed in the inaugural World Sevens tournament final, edging United 2-1, in a tightly contested fun affair.
Several players will be facing former clubs during the tie as Julia Zigiotti Olme swapped Bayern red for Manchester’s in the summer, whilst experienced striker Lea Schüller made the move in the winter transfer window.
Both players could prove pivotal to Marc Skinner’s side and provide them the UWCL experience they have previously lacked in domestic cup campaigns.
United’s Champions League journey has already produced memorable moments, including victories over Paris Saint-Germain during their first UCL night at Old Trafford, and defeating Italian giants Juventus.
However, Skinner’s side have also suffered heavy defeats against European heavyweights Wolfsburg and OL Lyonnes during the league phase, perhaps showcasing their vulnerability in a new environment.
Despite the mixed results, United finished sixth in the league phase with 13 points, just one point behind Bayern, who turned it around after suffering a shock 7-1 defeat against Barca .
The Red Devils, however, boast one of the best defensive records in the competition, keeping the most clean sheets with five.
Bayern arrive in formidable form, losing just once in all competitions this season which came in the form of that heavy defeat on the opening day of the Champions League.
Since then, the German side have put together an 18-match unbeaten run, only bettered by the dominant Barca side.
United may still be without playmaker Ella Toone, whilst Bayern could miss star winger Klara Bühl, who currently leads the competition’s assists chart.
United will hope to welcome back Japanese midfielder Hinata Miyazawa following the Asian Cup, with the side desperately needing the combative cover from their midfield maestro.
The German league leaders will also be looking to bring back a Japanese star of their own in the form of Momoko Tanikawa, who’s netted 10 times for the side so far this season, helping to take the burden off of the injured Buhl.
While Bayern’s experience in European knockout ties makes them favourites, United’s impressive recruitment, including the arrival of UWCL winner Fridolina Rolfö, gives them a genuine chance to continue their remarkable debut campaign.
Wolfsburg vs Lyon
The final quarterfinal tie sees two of the most successful clubs in European women’s football collide as Wolfsburg face OL Lyonnes.
Between them, the clubs have won the Champions League 10 times, with Wolfsburg claiming two, whilst the French giants hold a competition record of eight.
OL Lyonnes’ dominance has been particularly remarkable, highlighted by their historic run of five consecutive titles between 2016 and 2020.
Recent meetings have heavily favoured the French side with OL Lyonnes having won eight of the ten encounters between the sides, whilst Wolfsburg’s last victory dates back to 2017.
OL Lyonnes have also won each of the last seven meetings between the teams, cementing their favourites title in the tie and overall competition.
Wolfsburg will have a very tough test on their hands as the French side are yet to lose in any competition this season, currently sitting invincible also having just picked up their first piece of silverware for the year.
OL Lyonnes arguably have the strongest in the world, featuring stars such as Ada Hegerberg, Melchie Dumornay, Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Jule Brand and Lily Yohannes; just to name a handful of stars!
Dumornay, a two-time Young Player of the Season winner, has already scored four goals in this year’s UWCL campaign, whilst former Ballon d’Or winner Hegerberg remains the competition’s all-time leading scorer... and still netting top numbers this season.
Wolfsburg have their work cut out having endured a mixed league phase campaign, winning three matches and losing three.
However, the German side will look to Dutch forward Lineth Beerensteyn to provide the attacking spark needed to challenge OL Lyonnes’ formidable defence, who has scored four times in the competition so far.
The eight-time winners will be determined to erase the memory of last season’s disappointment, when they were eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champions Arsenal.
With their unbeaten record intact and a squad packed with world-class talent, they enter the tie as clear favourites but Wolfsburg’s history in the competition ensures they remain a dangerous opponent.
Comments