Arsenal to face Barca & Lyon in Women's Champions League
September 4, 2026 11:29
Arsenal have been drawn in the same league-phase group as holders Barcelona and eight-time winners Lyon in the 2026-27 Women’s Champions League. Arsenal will play three home matches against Lyon, Benfica and HB Køge, and will travel to face Barcelona, Paris FC and Inter Milan.
Chelsea and Manchester City’s group opponents were also confirmed. Chelsea host Paris St-Germain, Roma and Austria Wien, and travel to face Lyon, BK Häcken and OH Leuven. Manchester City, who were placed in pot three after missing European competition last season, will host PSG, Real Madrid and Austria Wien and will play away at Bayern Munich, Häcken and Inter Milan.
KEY CONTEXT
- Arsenal are the reigning European champions, having won the competition in 2025; their title defence last season ended against Lyon in the semi-finals.
- Chelsea were beaten finalists in 2020-21.
- Austria Wien are making their debut in the league phase.
- The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland, with 18 clubs split into three pots of six; each side was drawn against two opponents (one home, one away) from each pot.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Arsenal face two of Europe’s most decorated teams — Barcelona and Lyon — making their group one of the toughest among the English clubs. Meeting Lyon again continues a recent pattern of the two clubs encountering each other deep in the competition.
- Several high-profile matchups were set up by the draw, including a repeat of the 2025-26 semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Munich and a Bayern trip to PSG.
- For Austria Wien, the draw offers high-profile fixtures against established clubs including visits to Manchester City and Chelsea, an important milestone for the club in European competition.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- UEFA will publish each team’s full match schedule on Saturday 5 September; the first league-phase fixtures are on 22-23 September and the final round on 16 December.
- The knockout play-offs are scheduled for February 2027, with quarter-finals in March and semi-finals in early May.
- Observers will be monitoring Barcelona’s season as the club adapts after summer departures of Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, Mapi León and Salma Paralluelo, and how that transition affects their early meetings with Arsenal.
KEY FACTS
- Arsenal will host Lyon, Benfica and HB Køge; away fixtures are Barcelona, Paris FC and Inter Milan.
- Chelsea home fixtures: PSG, Roma, Austria Wien; away: Lyon, Häcken, OH Leuven.
- Manchester City home fixtures: PSG, Real Madrid, Austria Wien; away: Bayern Munich, Häcken, Inter Milan.
- Draw held in Nyon; 18 clubs in three pots of six; teams drawn for one home and one away opponent from each pot.
- Schedule confirmation: UEFA on 5 September; league phase runs from 22-23 September to 16 December; knockouts begin February 2027.