Soccer

Barcelona Women Begin Champions League Title Defence Test at Roma

By Hugo Brennan

Barcelona Women Begin Champions League Title Defence Test at Roma

Rome provides the next European stop for Barcelona Women, with the holders arriving at the Tre Fontana for their second Champions League match of the 2026-27 campaign.

Pere Romeu’s side opened their title defence with a 5-2 win over Paris FC at the Johan Cruyff Stadium last week. Their meeting with Roma begins at 18:45 local time in the Italian capital.

Quick facts

  • Roma host Barcelona at the Tre Fontana Stadium.
  • Kick-off is scheduled for 18:45.
  • English official Kirstie Dowle will referee, with Peter Bankes on VAR duty.
  • Barcelona began the league phase by beating Paris FC 5-2.
  • Aitana Bonmatí is available, while Kika Nazareth and Vicky López remain absent.

Barcelona have welcomed four members of Spain’s Under-20 World Cup-winning group into Romeu’s squad: Aïcha Cámara, Carla Julià, Noa Jiménez and Rosalía Domínguez. Julia Torres, also part of that victorious Spanish youth side, is the only one not with the team; she is 17.

Bonmatí is again in contention after receiving minutes in the recent match against Logroño. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner offers Barcelona an experienced option for a demanding continental away night.

There is still no place for Portugal forward Kika Nazareth or Spain international Vicky López, both of whom continue to be unavailable.

Roma now face the test of stopping a Barcelona side carrying both European champions’ status and early momentum from their five-goal opening victory.