The 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League season kicks off on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, continuing its tradition as Europe’s premier women’s football competition. It is the 24th edition, with the finals taking place at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 25, 2025.
16 teams will be competing in the group stage, and this season promises many high-level matches and excitement.
Overview
The UEFA Women’s Champions League, organized by UEFA, is the premier competition for women’s club football in Europe. Established in 2001 as the UEFA Women’s Cup, it was renamed in 2009 to align more closely with the men’s competition. The tournament has grown significantly, now featuring 72 teams in total, with 16 teams competing in the group stage.
The competition has evolved over the years, with key changes like the introduction of runners-up from top leagues and a one-off final. The 2021–22 season marked the introduction of a group stage in the modern era, mirroring the men’s Champions League format. Lyon remains the most successful club with eight titles, while Barcelona are the reigning champions, having won in 2024.
Each season, the tournament involves two qualification paths, with teams progressing through group stages, quarterfinals, and beyond, culminating in a final that decides Europe’s best women’s club team.
Change of Format from 2025/2026
It should be noted that this will be the last season in the current format. Starting with the 2025/2026 season, the UEFA Women’s Champions League will undergo another significant format change. The tournament will expand to offer even more opportunities for competitive matches, aiming to enhance the visibility and growth of women’s football across Europe.
The key changes include:
- Expanded Group Stage: The group stage will likely increase from the current 16 teams to accommodate more clubs, allowing greater representation from UEFA’s member associations.
- Two European Competitions: There are discussions about introducing two new women’s European competitions, similar to the men’s UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. This would give more clubs, especially from smaller nations, a chance to compete at a European level, providing increased match exposure and experience.
- Qualification and Entry Adjustments: The qualification process may be refined, with more direct entries for champions from top leagues and a more comprehensive qualification pathway for runners-up and lower-ranked clubs, following the principles of fairness and expanding opportunities.
2024/2025 Group Stage
Group A:
- Lyon
- Wolfsburg
- AS Roma
- Galatasaray
Group B:
- Twente
- Chelsea
- Celtic
- Real Madrid
Group C:
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Valerenga
- Juventus
Group D:
- Hammarby
- Barcelona
- Manchester City
- St. Polten
Round 1 Fixtures
- AS Roma W vs Wolfsburg W – 08.10. (17:45 GMT)
- Lyon W vs Galatasaray W – 08.10. (17:45 GMT)
- Celtic W vs Twente W – 08.10. (20:00 GMT)
- Chelsea W vs Real Madrid W – 08.10. (20:00 GMT)
- Bayern Munich W vs Arsenal W – 09.10. (17:45 GMT)
- Hammarby W vs St. Polten W – 09.10. (17:45 GMT)
- Manchester City W vs Barcelona W – 09.10. (20:00 GMT)
- Valerenga W vs Juventus W – 09.10. (20:00 GMT)
Players to Watch Out For
- Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) – Central Midfielder
- Lindsey Horan (Lyon) – Central Midfielder
- Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) – Central Midfielder/Attacking Midfield
- Lauren James (Chelsea) – Winger/Forward
- Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) – Winger/Forward
- Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain) – Striker
- Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) – Striker
- Glódís Viggósdóttir (Bayern Munich) – Centre-Back
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) – Forward/Winger
- Manuela Giugliano (Roma) – Central Midfielder
Favourites
Barcelona Femeni – Current Champions, won 3 of the last 4 titles and are the favourites to win their 4th title. They open their campaign with a difficult away match against Manchester City, who won their last encounter 2-1 in 2021. With the likes of Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, and Salma Paralluelo in their ranks, Barcelona Femeni would surely be the team to beat.
Olympique Lyon Féminin – Last year’s losing finalist, Lyon remains the most successful team in this competition and the 2022 champions. Lyon has developed a reputation as the Real Madrid of women’s football. An ever-present force in this competition, they will be looking to add a 9th title to their haul this season. A major challenge is the loss of their talismanic manager, Sonia Bompastor, to Chelsea.
Chelsea Women – England’s recently most dominant team and 2021 finalists, the Champions League remains a holy grail for them. They have replaced their most successful manager, Emma Hayes, with Sonia Bompastor, who won the Champions League in 2022 with Lyon. Will this be their season? It remains to be seen!