Chelsea will face Manchester City in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, while Arsenal take on Real Madrid.
City will host the first leg against the Women’s Super League leaders before heading to London to face Sonia Bompastor’s side in the second leg, following the Women’s League Cup final between the teams on Saturday 15 March. The first leg will be played on 18/19 March, with the return leg a week later on 26/27 March. The teams are also scheduled to meet in the WSL on Sunday 23 March.
The winner of the all-English clash between Chelsea and Manchester City could face Barcelona in the semi-finals, with the holders taking on Wolfsburg in their quarter-final. Chelsea have been knocked out by Barcelona in each of the last two seasons, as well as in the 2021 final, with the Spanish side going on to lift the trophy on all three occasions.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will play Real Madrid on the other side of the draw. Should the Gunners return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2023, they will play either Bayern Munich or Lyon for a place in the Lisbon final on Saturday 24 May. There are three English teams through to the quarter-finals for the first time since the group stage format was introduced in 2021.
Follow updates from the Women’s Champions League draw in the live blog, below:
Women's Champions League draw: Latest updates as knockout ties revealed
- Women's Champions League quarter-finals revealed
- Manchester City to face Chelsea in all-English tie
- Arsenal to play Real Madrid
- Man City or Chelsea to play Barcelona or Wolfsburg in semi-finals
- Arsenal or Real Madrid to meet Lyon or Bayern Munich
Man City and Chelsea to play four times in two weeks
12:37 , Jamie BraidwoodManchester City and Chelsea are set to face each other four times within a two-week period, across three competitions.
Saturday 15 March: Manchester City vs Chelsea (League Cup final)
18/19 March: Manchester City vs Chelsea (WCL)
Sunday 23 March: Manchester City vs Chelsea (WSL)
26/27 March: Chelsea vs Manchester City (WCL)
When will the quarter-finals be played?
12:35 , Chris WilsonFor the next round, the first leg matches will be played on 18/19 March, with the return legs a week later on 26/27 March.
Women's Champions League draw
12:25 , Chris WilsonIn addition to Chelsea’s intriguing tie against Man City, they may well face Barcelona at the semi-final stage once more if they do beat their compatriots.
Barca face Wolfsburg in their quarter-final, with the winner facing either Chelsea or City.
That means that one of Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Lyon (last year’s finalists) will be contending the final in Lisbon.
Women's Champions League draw
12:21 , Chris WilsonHere are the quarter-finals in full:
Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Manchester City vs Chelsea
Wolfsburg vs FC Barcelona
Bayern Munich vs Lyon
Safe to say the stand-out tie is probably City vs Chelsea!
Women's Champions League draw LIVE
12:18 , Chris WilsonThe winner of quarter-final three will face the winner of quarter-final two in the semi-finals.
So, that means the winner of the first quarter-final will obviously face the winner of quarter-final four.
In that case, it’ll be as so:
Real Madrid/Arsenal vs Bayern Munich vs Lyon
Wolfsburg/FC Barcelona vs Man City/Chelsea.
In addition, the home team in the final will be the winner of semi-final two.
Women's Champions League draw: Bayern Munich vs Lyon
12:15 , Chris WilsonThe last quarter-final is Bayern vs Lyon, in that case.
Women's Champions League draw: Wolfsburg vs Barcelona
12:15 , Chris WilsonWolfsburg are the next side drawn out, so they automatically face holders Barcelona.
Women's Champions League draw: Man City vs Chelsea
12:14 , Chris WilsonManchester 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.
Women's Champions League draw: Real Madrid vs Arsenal
12:13 , Chris WilsonThe first name out of the pot is Real Madrid, the runners-up from Group B.
They are drawn against Arsenal.
How does the Women’s Champions League draw work?
12:11The 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
12:08 , Chris WilsonThere 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).
Women's Champions League draw LIVE
12:02 , Chris WilsonThe draw ceremony has indeed begun on time, with a small speech to start.
Women's Champions League draw LIVE
11:55 , Chris WilsonThe draw is scheduled to begin in around five minutes, though it remains to be seen whether Uefa will stick to the planned timings.
The contenders: Chelsea
11:53 , Chris WilsonSonia 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.
The contenders: Lyon
11:48 , Chris WilsonThe 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.
The contenders: Barcelona
11:43 , Chris WilsonLast year’s winners Barcelona are the most successful team in the competition’s recent history, having won the tournament in 2021, 2023 and 2024 (as well as being runners-up in 2022).
Led by Ballon d’or holder Aitana Bonmati, the Catalan club are once again favourites this season, as they bid to become just the second club to win three titles in a row.
Last season, they beat Lyon 2-0 in the final thanks to goals from Bonmati and fellow Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.
Who are the favourites for this year's title?
11:38 , Chris WilsonPerhaps unsurprisingly, Barcelona are the overwhelming bookies’ favourites to win this year’s Champions League, with the holders priced as low as 11/8.
Last season’s runners-up Lyon are second favourites, with Chelsea priced in third.
Arsenal and Manchester City are the outside shouts, with the Gunners slightly favoured at present.
Khadija Shaw pulls out of Man City match after suffering racist and misogynistic abuse
11:33 , Chris WilsonManchester City striker Khadija Shaw withdrew from her team’s League Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Thursday night after suffering racist and misogynistic abuse.
The club’s record goalscorer and reigning PFA Player of the Year was sent abusive messages and subjected to “disgusting treatment” following City’s 4-3 home defeat to Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.
City reported the messages to the police and confirmed that the Jamaica international did not take part in Thursday’s League Cup tie against the same opposition to protect her mental well-being.
Khadija Shaw pulls out of Man City match after racist and misogynistic abuse
Sonia Bompastor dismisses Chelsea quadruple talk after reaching first final
11:26 , Chris WilsonSonia Bompastor dismissed talk of winning a quadruple with Chelsea after the Blues reached their first final under the French coach.
Chelsea defeated West Ham 2-0 on Wednesday night to progress to their sixth Women’s League Cup final in a row - where they will face either Arsenal or Manchester City.
Chelsea also hold a seven-point lead at the top of the Women’s Super League and are through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League - a trophy they have yet to win.
Sonia Bompastor dismisses Chelsea quadruple talk after reaching first final
Women’s Champions League knockout dates
11:20 , Chris WilsonSo when will the next ties be played? Below is a rundown of the dates for each of the next rounds.
Quarter-finals
First leg: 18/19 March
Second leg: 26/27 March
Semi-finals
First leg: 19/20 April
Second leg: 26/27 April
Final
Saturday 24 May (Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon)
Which teams can’t play each other in the quarter-finals?
11:15 , Chris WilsonTeams who participated in the same groups in the group stage cannot face each other in the next round – this is the only thing preventing teams from playing each other.
To that end, the teams who can’t face each other in the next round are as follows:
Group A: Lyon + Wolfsburg
Group B: Chelsea + Real Madrid
Group C: Arsenal + Bayern Munich
Group D: Barcelona + Manchester City
Who is in the draw?
11:05 , Chris WilsonGroup winners (seeded): Lyon (FRA), Chelsea (ENG), Arsenal (ENG), Barcelona (ESP)
Runners-up (unseeded): Wolfsburg (GER), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Manchester City (ENG)
How does the Women’s Champions League draw work?
10:57 , Chris WilsonThe 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.
When is the Women’s Champions League draw?
10:50 , Chris WilsonThe draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place at 12pm UK time (GMT) on Friday 7 February. You can watch a live stream of the draw on the Uefa website or on DAZN.
Women's Champions League draw LIVE
10:40 , Chris WilsonThe Women’s Champions League knockout stage draw takes place ahead of the quarter-finals, and for the first time since under the new format there will be three English teams in the hat.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all progressed through the group stages and join the holders Barcelona, as well as Lyon, Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, in the draw.
Barcelona may be the favourites to retain their crown but Chelsea’s statement transfer window - where Sonia Bompastor’s side signed Keira Walsh and Naomi Girma - ensures the Blues have never looked stronger in their pursuit of a first European title.
Arsenal were the last English team to win the European Cup in 2007 and the Gunners also progressed as group winners under Renee Slegers, while City are through to their first Champions League quarter-final since 2021.
Teams from the same country can play each other in the quarter-finals, so there is a chance of an all-English clash as the path to the Lisbon final is set.
Women's Champions League draw LIVE
10:30 , Chris WilsonGood morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the draw for the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City will all learn their opponents for the next round today, as well as their potential paths to the final in Lisbon.
