Holders Arsenal on Course for Chelsea Clash While Man Utd Prepare for Atletico Madrid Rematch

The Women’s Champions League draw has landed, and it has done exactly what this competition so often does: stirred excitement, anxiety, and no small amount of anticipation across Europe. For English fans in particular, the picture is a fascinating one. Defending champions Arsenal are on a clear collision course with Chelsea, while Manchester United have been handed a familiar test in the shape of Atletico Madrid.

If results fall as expected in February’s knockout play-offs, the quarter-finals could feature an all-English heavyweight clash that would light up the competition long before the road to Oslo reaches its final destination.

Arsenal’s Route: Familiar Foes and a Familiar Favouritism

Arsenal’s position in this year’s Women’s Champions League has been slightly unusual for reigning champions. Finishing fifth in the league phase, the Gunners missed out on automatic qualification for the quarter-finals by just a single point. That fine margin has sent them into the knockout play-offs, where they will face Belgian side OH Leuven.

On paper, it is a tie Arsenal should navigate comfortably. They already beat Leuven 3-0 earlier in the competition and will be heavy favourites to repeat the feat over two legs. Should they do so, a mouth-watering quarter-final against Chelsea awaits.

The prospect of an all-English Women’s Champions League quarter-final feels both inevitable and irresistible. Arsenal versus Chelsea has become one of the defining rivalries in the women’s game, and the idea of that battle being staged on Europe’s biggest stage adds another layer of intrigue.

For Arsenal, there is also the small matter of defending their crown. Winning back-to-back Champions League titles is notoriously difficult, and the Gunners know there will be no easy route this time around. Still, if they are to lift the trophy again in Oslo, overcoming rivals like Chelsea may feel not just necessary, but fitting.

Maya Le Tissier Man Utd Women 2025-26

Chelsea Lying in Wait on the Blue Path

Chelsea, by contrast, have enjoyed a more straightforward journey so far. The Blues finished in the top four of the league phase, securing automatic passage to the quarter-finals and avoiding the February play-off drama altogether.

The draw placed Chelsea on the so-called blue path, where they will face either Arsenal or OH Leuven in the last eight. That assignment also puts eight-time champions Lyon on the same side of the bracket, setting up the possibility of a titanic semi-final should both teams progress.

For Chelsea, the significance of the draw is hard to overstate. They have come agonisingly close to European glory in recent years, often running into a relentless Barcelona side. Holding Barca to a draw earlier in the competition felt like a small psychological victory, but knowing they can only meet the Catalans in the final could be crucial.

Of course, that assumes they can get past Arsenal or Lyon – no small task by any measure.

Manchester United and an Atletico Madrid Rematch

Manchester United find themselves in a situation similar to Arsenal’s. They finished sixth in the league phase, again just a point off the automatic qualification spots, and must now come through the play-offs.

Their reward is a rematch with Atletico Madrid, a side they know well. United beat Atletico 1-0 earlier in the competition, despite playing more than half the match with 10 players. That result will give Marc Skinner’s side confidence, but knockout football has a habit of rewriting narratives.

If United can overcome Atletico across two legs in February, they will book a quarter-final against Bayern Munich. It is a daunting prospect, but also an opportunity for United to measure themselves against one of Europe’s traditional heavyweights.

For a club still building its identity in the women’s game, another deep Champions League run would be a powerful statement.

Confirmed Women’s Champions League Knockout Play-Off Ties

FC Barcelona v FC Bayern Munchen – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

The full draw for the knockout play-offs reads as follows:

• Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

• Paris FC vs Real Madrid

• OH Leuven vs Arsenal

• Wolfsburg vs Juventus

These ties will be played over two legs in February, with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals and stepping into a bracket that is now fully mapped out.

Silver and Blue Paths: No More Draws, Just Destiny

One of the most important aspects of this draw is that it has defined the rest of the competition. Teams have been assigned either the silver or blue path, meaning there will be no further draws from this point on.

On the blue path, Chelsea await Arsenal or Leuven, while Lyon will face either Wolfsburg or Juventus. The winners of those two quarter-finals will meet in the semi-finals.

On the silver path, Barcelona are set to play the winners of Paris FC vs Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich will face either Manchester United or Atletico Madrid. Again, the winners of those quarter-finals will clash for a place in the final.

For players and coaches alike, this clarity can be both comforting and daunting. Everyone now knows exactly what stands between them and the final in Oslo.

Who Are the Favourites for the Women’s Champions League?

As ever, Barcelona remain the obvious starting point when discussing favourites. They have reached six of the last seven Women’s Champions League finals and won three of the last five editions. Despite losing last season’s final to Arsenal, their pedigree is undeniable.

However, this season may present new challenges. Barcelona’s squad is thinner than in previous years, and injuries have already begun to bite. The potential loss of three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati for the rest of the season would be a huge blow to their ambitions.

That uncertainty has pushed Lyon back into the spotlight for many observers. The French giants were outstanding in the league phase, finishing level on points with Barcelona and boasting one of Europe’s most in-form players in Melchie Dumornay. Lyon’s experience and depth make them a formidable opponent for anyone.

Chelsea, too, will quietly fancy their chances. Years of near-misses have hardened this squad, and avoiding Barcelona until a potential final could be decisive. Arsenal, as holders, cannot be discounted either, particularly if they continue to blend resilience with big-game composure.

Dates to Mark: When the Knockout Matches Will Be Played

The Women’s Champions League now moves into its most intense phase.

• Knockout play-offs:

  • First legs: February 11 and 12

  • Second legs: February 18 and 19

• Quarter-finals:

  • First legs: March 24 and 25

  • Second legs: April 1 and 2

• Semi-finals:

  • Late April

• Final:

  • May 23, at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway

Each stage brings its own pressures, but by the time the final arrives, the survivors will have earned their place the hard way.

An English Presence That Feels Bigger Than Ever

What stands out most from this draw is just how prominent English clubs are becoming in the Women’s Champions League. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are not just participants; they are central figures in the competition’s narrative.

The possibility of an all-English quarter-final between Arsenal and Chelsea feels symbolic of that growth. It speaks to the strength of the Women’s Super League and the increasing depth of talent across its top clubs.

Whether that potential showdown materialises or not, one thing is clear: the road to Oslo is packed with storylines, rivalries, and high-stakes football. And for fans, that is exactly how the Women’s Champions League should be.