Arsenal to face Barca & Lyon in Women's Champions League

The Women's Champions League is entering its 18th edition [Getty Images] Arsenal will face holders Barcelona and eight-time winners Lyon in the league phase of the Women's Champions League, while Chelsea will travel to Lyon and Manchester City will take on last season's semi-finalists Bayern Munich. Arsenal will host Lyon, Benfica and Danish side HB Koge, who they beat home and away in 2021-22. Renee Slegers' side will travel to face Barcelona, Paris FC and Inter Milan as they look to reclaim the European title they won in 2025. Chelsea - beaten finalists in 2020-21 - will play Paris St-Germain, Roma and league phase debutants Austria Wien in London. Blues manager Sonia Bompastor will be reunited with her former club Lyon when Chelsea face the record Champions League winners in France, with trips to Swedish side Hacken and OH Leuven in Belgium completing their schedule. After missing out on European football last season, Women's Super League champions Manchester City were placed in pot three but have avoided the toughest draw. Andree Jeglertz's side will play PSG, Real Madrid and Austria Wien at home, and Bayern Munich, Hacken and Inter Milan away. Other stand-out matches from Friday's draw include Barcelona and Bayern replaying their 2025-26 semi-final in Munich, as well as the German side travelling to face PSG. The draw in Nyon, Switzerland, had all 18 clubs placed into pots of six and drawn against two opponents - one home and one away - from each pot. Arsenal and Chelsea were in pot one, with City in pot three. Each team's match schedule will be confirmed by Uefa on Saturday, 5 September. The first matchday of the league phase will be played on 22 and 23 September with the sixth and final games to take place on 16 December. The knockout phase play-offs will be played in February 2027 followed by the quarter-finals in March and the semi-finals in early May. The final in Warsaw is scheduled for the final week of May. League phase dates: Matchday 1: 22/23 September Matchday 2: 30 September/1 October Matchday 3: 28/29 October Matchday 4: 10/11 November Matchday 5: 18/19 November Matchday 6: 16 December Arsenal Home opponents: Lyon, Benfica, HB Koge Away opponents: Barcelona, Paris FC, Inter Milan Chelsea Home opponents: Paris St-Germain, Roma, Austria Wien Away opponents: Lyon, Hacken, OH Leuven Manchester City Home opponents: Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Austria Wien Away opponents: Bayern Munich, Hacken, Inter Milan Analysis: Arsenal handed toughest draw There are some juicy ties for Arsenal that immediately jump out against big-hitters Lyon and Barcelona in the league phase. They will hope that Barca are still finding their feet when they play each other. The Spaniards are entering a transitional era following the departures of key players Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, Mapi Leon and Salma Paralluelo this summer. There is also a repeat of the past two semi-finals between Arsenal and Lyon - the French giants ended the Gunners' title defence last season. Arsenal's draw is arguably the toughest of the three English clubs, while Chelsea will be confident they can progress without any hiccups. Blues boss Bompastor will relish meetings at her former club Lyon and old French rivals Paris St-Germain, who Chelsea will host in London. WSL champions Manchester City have avoided the big two - Lyon and Barcelona - but have to navigate some potentially tricky ties against Bayern Munich, PSG and BK Hacken. Austria Wien will be considered major underdogs and are making their league phase debut, but will be delighted they have been awarded for their progress in Europe with trips to both City and Chelsea. Find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed