The league phase of the 26th Women’s Champions League begins on Tuesday, bringing 18 of Europe’s leading sides into a new race for a final in Warsaw’s National Stadium, scheduled for 28-30 May, with the exact date and kick-off time still to be confirmed. The competition started on 22 July with 74 clubs from 51 associations; now the field has narrowed and the continental season takes on its decisive shape.
Warsaw’s emblem, the mermaid Szawa, stands behind one version of the city’s name. Legend has it that she travelled from the North Atlantic to a fishing settlement, where her singing and habit of frightening away fish angered the locals. A merchant captured her after blocking his ears, then exhibited her for profit, until a fisherman called War freed her with friends. In gratitude, she remained to protect them, giving rise to War-Szawa. By the end of May, one of Europe’s clubs will be seeking its own place in the Polish capital’s story.
Barcelona arrive as holders and again set the standard. They have contested each of the past six finals, winning four of them, and have reached seven of the last eight showpieces. Claudia Pina insisted that the champions must not allow expectation to become a burden before their opening league-phase meeting with Paris FC.
“The last thing this team should do is put pressure on itself,” Pina said. “We have to be ourselves, enjoy playing, and the results will follow.” Barcelona are pursuing the five trophies available to them — the league, Copa, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League and Champions Cup — and Pina stressed that the approach does not change from one competition to another. “We go out to win every match. Starting well matters a lot to us, and we know it will not be easy.”
Spanish challengers spread across Europe
Real Madrid are Spain’s other entrant, with a continental quarter-final their best finish, achieved three times. Pau Quesada wants his side to move beyond last season’s level when they host Paris Saint-Germain, the club of Olga Carmona. Madrid beat PSG, Wolfsburg and Roma in the previous campaign, losing only to Arsenal and Barcelona.
“The intention is to improve on last year,” Quesada said. “We must try to repeat what we did and, once we reach the knockout rounds — whether it is the play-off or quarter-finals — have the ability to keep progressing. The aim is to improve and be among the last four.”
Arsenal, the most recent side to deny Barcelona the European crown, include three Spanish internationals: goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle. Batlle moved from Barcelona to London during the summer and described the Champions League as the toughest competition of her career.
“I love competing and I enjoy a challenge, so this is probably the competition I enjoy most because it lets me test myself and give my best,” Batlle said. “We want to fight for everything, and I have an incredible group of players to do that.”
OL Lyonnes remain the competition’s most decorated club with eight titles. The French champions are coached by Jonatan Giráldez, who added Salma Paralluelo to his squad in the summer. Germany’s Bayern Munich also enter directly into the league phase; José Barcalá’s team includes Spain international Edna Imade.
Austria Vienna and Inter Milan are the two newcomers at this stage. Inter, featuring Ivana Andrés and Sheila García, produced the standout result of qualifying by eliminating two-time European champions Wolfsburg.
Spanish representation also runs through Juventus, coached by Isaac Guerrero and home to Alba Redondo, Cristina Librán, Estela Carbonell and Julia Bartel, while Servette have Asun Martínez, Enith Salón, Paola Hernández and Paula Serrano.
The remaining league-phase contenders without Spanish players named in their squads are Manchester City, Chelsea, HB Køge, BK Häcken, Benfica, OH Leuven, Roma and Paris FC. Across the continent, the first midweek now sets the tone: Barcelona begin as the team to catch, but every result will start to shape the road to Warsaw.
