The premier European women’s club tournament is in progress, with Arsenal endeavoring to maintain their championship, Barcelona aiming for a sixth successive title match, and Chelsea aspiring to capture the coveted cup for the initial occasion.
Manchester United’s involvement signifies a second successive year featuring three Women’s Super League participants in the contest.
This campaign assures thrilling confrontations, budding talents, and unforeseen results, but which contenders are the top 10 picks to triumph in the competition?
Women’s Champions League favourites: 10. Atletico Madrid
Potentially the unexpected contender, Atletico Madrid has surpassed the qualifying rounds for the first occasion since 2020/21.
Although they’ve encountered difficulties competing with Barcelona in Liga F lately, a victorious commencement to this campaign, encompassing a triumph over rivals Real Madrid, implies the capability to induce surprises in European matches.
Significant athletes encompass Chelsea’s loaned player Julia Bartel, former Manchester United midfielder Vilde Boe Risa, and prominent Brazilian striker Luany. With group impetus favoring them, Atletico could emerge as a concealed threat in this year’s Women’s Champions League.
9. Paris Saint-Germain
PSG, second-place finishers in 2015 and 2017, unexpectedly missed the 2024/25 Champions League group matches subsequent to a loss to Juventus, concluding a six-year sequence of attaining at least the quarter-final stage.
Fresh acquisitions encompass Crystal Dunn, Olga Carmona, Rasheedat Ajibade, and youthful Canadian Florianne Jourde, however, they forfeited vital players such as Kadidiatou Diani to adversaries Lyon and Grace Geyoro to London City Lionesses.
Having accomplished second position to Lyon in seven of the preceding eight campaigns, PSG will be determined to contest Europe’s finest, and they possess the aptitude – despite securing merely two triumphs in their initial four league contests.
8. Wolfsberg
Twice Champions League victors and four-time second-place holders, Wolfsburg may not command Europe as they previously did, but invariably pose a challenge on the significant stage.
Under the guidance of new director Stephan Lerch, succeeding Tommy Stroot in the summer period, they’ll encounter a demanding league segment including Chelsea, Lyon, Real Madrid, and PSG.
Distinguished talents encompass midfielder Janina Minge and youthful Swiss forward Smilla Vallotto, who impressed during the Euros, and with their stars exhibiting exceptional form, Wolfsburg possesses the caliber to execute a profound journey in Europe.
7. Bayern Munich
Frauen-Bundesliga titlists Bayern Munich, spearheaded by new director Jose Barcala, exhibit stars encompassing Lioness Georgia Stanway and German talents Giulia Gwinn and Klara Buhl.
Their most arduous challenge? A brutal league segment showcasing former victors Barcelona, whom they have already undergone a 7-1 defeat to on Matchday 1. They additionally confront current holders Arsenal and PSG.
Historically, their most distinguished Champions League journeys concluded in the semi-finals, succumbing to Barcelona in 2018/19 and Chelsea in 2020/21. With their talent and domestic accomplishment, Bayern possess the caliber to navigate challenging matches and execute another profound journey in Europe.
6. Real Madrid
Exhibiting talents encompassing Athenea del Castillo, Caroline Weir, and fresh acquisition Sara Dabritz, Real Madrid are steadily ascending in women’s soccer, achieving a historic moment in March when they overcame Barcelona for the inaugural occasion.
Last campaign, they narrowly forfeited both group-stage encounters to Chelsea (3-2 away, 2-1 home) but astonished Arsenal 2-0 in the initial leg of the quarter-finals before Arsenal’s brilliance overwhelmed them in the return match.
These glimpses of radiance could suffice to witness them progress considerably, although their commencement to Liga F under new director Pau Quesada has witnessed them secure merely three victories from six contests.
5. Manchester United
Manchester United are etching history, attaining this phase of the Champions League for the initial occasion.
Following a 1-0 away defeat to Norwegian side Brann in qualifying, they rebounded emphatically with an Elisabeth Terland hat-trick. Terland’s attacking ingenuity is complemented by Melvine Malard, who spearheads the WSL Golden Boot contest with four goals in five matches.
A recent league stalemate against Chelsea underscores their escalating credentials as title aspirants, while November’s confrontation with PSG assures additional intensity as Mary Earps returns to her former association, with Ella Toone admitting to texting her with enthusiasm instantly following the draw.
4. Arsenal
Reigning champions Arsenal astonished Europe by dethroning Barcelona last campaign in Lisbon, but their title safeguard has commenced uncertainly with a 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Matchday 1.
With a roster showcasing seven Ballon d’Or nominees (encompassing four in the top 10), their individual excellence is undeniable – numerous individuals felt Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, who secured second and third positions respectively, merited the premier accolade.
However, Renee Slegers’ challenge is consistency in her team’s performances and they earned a reputation of being the comeback queens in last year’s competition. Winless in four and slipping in the WSL race, they’ll necessitate a statement outcome against Benfica next week to stabilize impetus.
3. OL Lyonnes
Record eight-time titlists Lyon remain a commanding presence in Europe and exhibit no indications of decelerating as they emerged fiercely on matchday one with a 2-1 triumph over reigning champions Arsenal.
Endorsed by Michele Kang and with a roster showcasing Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay, fresh acquisition Jule Brand and the competition’s all-time highest pointscorer Ada Hegerberg, their deadly offensive intimidation will be challenging to halt.
Lyon’s expertise in this contest merged with an abundance of talent renders them a severe danger to reclaim their European supremacy once more.
2. Barcelona
Barcelona may have relinquished 17 athletes over the summer months, but their nucleus of world-class talent persists undamaged.
Three-time Ballon d’Or victor Aitana Bonmati and two-time victor Alexia Putellas proceed to establish the benchmark in midfield, while Claudia Pina was the leading pointscorer in last campaign’s competition. Young star Vicky Lopez contributes to the firepower and is fresh off securing the inaugural women’s Kopa Trophy (finest under-21 athlete globally). Who necessitates roster breadth when you possess athletes such as these?
The three-time champions conveyed a distinct message on matchday one with a 7-1 demolition of Bayern Munich, and they’ve commenced Liga F with an astounding +30 goal distinction in six contests. Even amidst transition, Barcelona can never be underestimated.
1. Chelsea
Notwithstanding last campaign’s domestic treble, Chelsea remain determined for the singular trophy that persists in eluding them.
Their closest endeavor to the Champions League crown materialized in 2021, when they were dismantled 4-0 by their European nemesis Barcelona in the final match. Barca have repetitively been their stumbling block, encompassing an 8-2 aggregate defeat in last campaign’s semi-final.
Resolved to alter the narrative, Chelsea have invested considerably this year, notably in their club-record acquisition of Alyssa Thompson from Angel City to reinforce an already remarkable attack of perennial pointscorer Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones, who is performing exceptionally this campaign.
A group-stage confrontation with Barcelona on matchday four could establish the ambiance for their campaign, and acquiring a preview of their adversaries earlier in the contest than usual with the revised format could operate to their advantage.
This could ultimately be the year…
