It has been a long time since an English club reigned supreme across the European Women's game.
You have to go back to 2007. A time when Tony Blair was still Prime Minister and Rihanna's 'Umbrella' dominated the charts. That same year Arsenal were crowned the best team on the continent after winning the UEFA Cup final against Swedish side Umea.
Ex-Lioness Alex Scott's 90th winner in the first leg proved the difference for the Gunners, with a 0-0 stalemate in the second tie securing the top European crown. But since then no English side has won the biggest prize in women's club football, with the competition rebranded as the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2009.
Arsenal's cross-town London rivals Chelsea are the only English team to reach the final. Emma Hayes took her side very nearly all the way in 2021, only to be stunned 4-0 by Barcelona. But hopes are high this could finally be the year to end the English drought.
This seasons' tournament returns this week with both clubs looking stronger than ever on the continent. Both Chelsea and Arsenal topped their respective groups and now face the first leg of mammoth quarter-final ties.
So what are their chances in the knockout stage?
Arsenal
Arsenal are first in action this evening when they travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich at the spectacular Allianz Arena, with the return fixture taking place next week at the Emirates. Bayern showed they are no mugs in the group stage, finishing on the same amount of points as 2021 winners Barcelona, after toppling the Spanish giants 3-1 in Bavaria.
They were runners-up in the German top flight last year behind VfL Wolfsburg but have since recruited one of the stars of England's Euro 2022 win in Georgia Stanway. Stanway, has already made a big impact on the German outfits' European campaign, firing two late goals in a 3-2 win over Benfica that put them on course for the last eight.
It won't be an easy ask for Arsenal, particularly with Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema missing the rest of their European campaign with ACL's. But their domestic form received a boost in the form of that Conti Cup final over Chelsea, and they have already finished above Lyon and Juventus in Europe this season.
At the start of the season few were expecting Bayern to repeat last season's run to the semi-final, so the Gunners can take confidence from their own impressive group stage performances. The German side also have the added issue of the two legs sandwiching a huge game in the league with title rivals Wolfsburg.
The Gunners could use that to their benefit and if they come from the first leg unscathed, should have enough to progress to the last four.
Chelsea
Chelsea face arguably the toughest tie of the round against Lyon, with the first leg in France on Wednesday. The French champions have won the competition a record 8 times and are the holders after beating Barcelona in last seasons' showpiece final.
The first leg also comes in a tough week for the Blues who face Man City on Sunday in a game that could define their WSL title challenge. Chelsea failed to get out of the group last season, but to come through a tough looking pool unbeaten, against the likes of PSG and Real Madrid, was a statement to the rest of Europe.
The Blues look better placed than ever to get back to the final, they first graced in 2021. Lyon are still a powerhouse but their defeat to Arsenal in the group stage shows they are no longer the invincible force they once were.
Of course it is impossible to discount a side who have won six of the past seven titles and a squad containing Wendie Renard, Ada Hegerberg (who could make a return from injury) Lindsey Horan and Sara Dabritz they won't fear anyone. But this feels like Chelsea's year in Europe.
They have a squad as good as any in Europe. Yes Lyon is a tough tie, but were probably always likely to need to beat Les Fenottes at some point - why not now?
Verdict
It is hard to say which English side has a better chance of ending the drought. Both will be flying with confidence if they can reach the last four and if Chelsea can knock-out Lyon that will be one of the big favourites gone.
And - narrowly - I'm going to give them a slightly better chance than Arsenal. The Gunners could very well end up with a winnable last four tie, but I think the injuries to Miedema and Mead will mean this isn't quite their year.
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