Women's Champions League news

When Sydney Schertenleib sat in front of the national media last summer, before playing in her first European Championship for hosts Switzerland at the age of 18, and declared that her "biggest goal" was to win the Ballon d'Or one day, some may have rolled their eyes.

Manchester United's season is likely to be defined by events in the next eight days. The Red Devils have enjoyed some real highs this year, reaching a Women's Champions League quarter-final on their main draw debut and a first League Cup final, but if Marc Skinner's side don't get some big results over the course of this next week, they could have very little to show for their efforts.

How to watch the Women's Champions League match between Real Madrid Femenino and Barcelona, as well as kick-off time and team news

Chelsea's dreams of winning a first-ever Women's Champions League title hang by a thread after losing 3-1 to rivals and holders Arsenal in the first leg of their quarter-final. Both sides' flailing Women's Super League campaigns means the importance of their European exploits have only increased, and it is the Gunners who hold the advantage heading into next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal's run to last year's Women's Champions League trophy was characterised by astonishing comebacks but it doesn't look like the Gunners will need one to continue their title defence beyond the quarter-final stage, after beating Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of their all-English last eight tie on Tuesday night. Goals from Stina Blackstenius and Chloe Kelly allowed the reigning European champions to take an advantage into next week's meeting at Stamford Bridge, in which they will only need to avoid defeat to reach the semi-finals.

The annual NXGN lists are back for 2026, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Lena Oberdorf and Linda Caicedo in being recognised as the best young footballers on the planet.

How to watch the Women's Champions League match between Arsenal Women and Chelsea FC Women, as well as kick-off time and team news

Arsenal will be without Leah Williamson when they host Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Tuesday night. The England captain is dealing with a hamstring issue that kept her out of the Gunners' win over West Ham at the weekend and she is not going to recover in time for the next chapter of her side's European title defence.

Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?

Beth Mead's clever reverse pass and Stina Blackstenius' clinical finish will forever be etched in the minds of Arsenal fans as the move that delivered the Gunners an incredible Champions League title in 2025. The north London side were huge underdogs against three-time winners Barcelona, but they fought hard and found a way to get the better of the Catalans in Lisbon last May, capping a European run for the ages.

Chelsea’s season hasn’t gone to plan so far. After romping to a sixth successive Women’s Super League crown last year, going unbeaten through all 22 games to set multiple records, the Blues’ title defence has fallen incredibly flat. Sat nine points behind leaders Manchester City with six games to go, it’s simply not been good enough for a club with such high standards.

There was less than an hour remaining in the Women’s Super League summer transfer window when the most stunning business of all was completed. Jess Park and Grace Clinton had been stalwarts at Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively, during the previous season. And yet, at the eleventh hour, both were sent to opposite sides of the city, to represent what had been their biggest and bitterest rival.

Chelsea, Arsenal, the Orlando Pride and the London City Lionesses all broke the world record in 2025 alone, as spending in the women's game grows

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson is one of four footballers to be nominated for accolades at the prestigious 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, with her England team also shortlisted after winning the 2025 European Championships. Lamine Yamal was the only footballer to win an award at last year's ceremony, with Real Madrid also scooping up a team prize, but the chances of more recognition are greater this year, with significantly more nominees from the world of football.