Women’s Champions League draw LIVE: Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City to learn quarter-final opponents
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City await their Women’s Champions League fate – and could face each other in the knockout stages as the path to the Lisbon final is set.
For the first time since the group stage format was introduced in 2021, there are three English teams through to the quarter-finals with Chelsea and Arsenal progressing as group winners and City through as runners-up. They join holders Barcelona, eight-time winners Lyon, German giants Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, and Real Madrid in the hat.
There is no country protection in the knockout draw, meaning that Chelsea and Arsenal could draw Manchester City in the quarter-finals. The London clubs are seeded as group winners, however, so they are unable to face each other until at least the semi-finals, while teams who played each other in the group stage also can’t meet in the quarter-finals.
Follow updates from the Women’s Champions League draw in the live blog, below:
Women’s Champions League draw: Bayern Munich vs Lyon
The last quarter-final is Bayern vs Lyon, in that case.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:15
Women’s Champions League draw: Wolfsburg vs Barcelona
Wolfsburg are the next side drawn out, so they automatically face holders Barcelona.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:15
Women’s Champions League draw: Man City vs Chelsea
Manchester City are drawn out next, and they are drawn against Barcelona, but as this draw is not possible they are re-drawn – against Chelsea!
It’s an all-English tie there.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:14
Women’s Champions League draw: Real Madrid vs Arsenal
The first name out of the pot is Real Madrid, the runners-up from Group B.
They are drawn against Arsenal.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:13
How does the Women’s Champions League draw work?
The four group winners will be drawn against runners-up from a different group in the quarter-finals. The group winners will be seeded and will play at home in the second leg. The draw then repeats for the semi-final, where no teams are seeded. There is no country protection at any stage of the knockout draw.
Women’s Champions League draw LIVE
There are a few montages played – one for each team left – and we’re nearing the draw now.
Former Portugal international Carla Couto will help carry out the draw alongside Nadine Kessler (Uefa’s head of women’s football).
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:08
Women’s Champions League draw LIVE
The draw ceremony has indeed begun on time, with a small speech to start.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 12:02
Women’s Champions League draw LIVE
The draw is scheduled to begin in around five minutes, though it remains to be seen whether Uefa will stick to the planned timings.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 11:55
The contenders: Chelsea
Sonia Bompastor’s side have picked up from where they left off under former coach Emma Hayes, and remain England’s dominant side.
However, Chelsea have been unable to replicate their domestic success on the European stage, having never won the Champions League – though they did lose the final in 2021.
The Blues are bidding to become just the second English side to win the competition after Arsenal in 2006/07, and while Emma Hayes’ side were unlucky to lose to Barcelona in controversial circumstances in the semi-finals last year, evidence suggests they could go one better this season under Bompastor.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 11:53
The contenders: Lyon
The French side are the most successful in the competition’s history, winning it eight times (most recently in 2022).
Last season’s runners-up are second-favourites once more this season, led by former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg as well as France star Kadidiatou Diani and Mali’s Tabitha Chawinga.
The French champions lead the league by seven points at present.
Chris Wilson7 February 2025 11:48
