The lights come on again in Europe on Tuesday, with the Women’s Champions League beginning under a cloud of unusual uncertainty. Lyon enter the new campaign carrying the weight of their history, Barcelona remain the team to beat, and the French contingent is three strong as the race for the continent’s biggest prize resumes.
For OL Lyonnes, the ambition is simple: return to the summit before the final comes home. The Groupama Stadium was confirmed last week as the venue for the 2028 Women’s Champions League final, but Lyon do not intend to wait that long for a ninth European crown.
They begin their league-phase schedule on Wednesday in Geneva against Servette, with kick-off at 21:00 and the match available on Disney+. It will be Lyon’s second European season under Jonatan Giraldez, who faces a familiar challenge after arriving in the Rhône from Barcelona.
Lyon chasing a first European title since 2022
Lyon remain the competition’s most successful club, having won five successive titles from 2016 to 2020. Yet their last triumph came in 2022, and Barcelona have repeatedly blocked their route back to the trophy.
The Catalan side beat Lyon 2-0 at San Mamés in the 2024 final, then delivered an even heavier 4-0 defeat in Oslo last spring. Barcelona have won four of the past six editions and start this season as one of the leading contenders again, even amid significant change in their squad.
Alexia Putellas, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, has left Barcelona for London City Lionesses, another club owned by Michele Kang. Her departure forms part of a rebuilding phase, but Barcelona are not expected to surrender their status easily.
England brings three major challengers
France, England and Italy each have three clubs in the competition. Alongside Lyon, Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain represent France, while Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City give England a formidable presence.
Arsenal arrive as reigning champions after their 1-0 final victory over Barcelona in 2025. Chelsea, coached by former Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor, and Manchester City also possess squads capable of going deep into the tournament.
Bayern Munich sit among the strongest outsiders. The German champions reached last season’s semi-finals before Barcelona eliminated them, following a 1-1 first leg and a 4-2 defeat in the return match.
Bayern are Germany’s only remaining representatives. Eintracht Frankfurt were knocked out by PSG after a 1-1 first leg and a 5-1 extra-time loss in Paris, while Wolfsburg went out to Inter after winning 2-0 away before losing 3-1 after extra time in the second match.
PSG handed a daunting route
PSG have reached the Women’s Champions League final twice, in 2015 and 2017, but they endured a bleak league phase last season, finishing 17th out of 18 clubs. Their new schedule promises glamour as well as danger, and a title run would rank as a major surprise.
There is also a first appearance for Inter, who join fellow Italian entrants Roma and Juventus. Italy’s trio will hope to make an impact, although none begins among the likeliest winners.
At the start of a fresh European season, every contender can still picture the final night. For Lyon, that picture carries a particular pull: another continental trophy, and eventually a final at their own stadium waiting further down the road.
