Women's Champions League

Women's Champions League news

Women's Ballon d'Or Power Rankings GFX

Ballon d'Or Feminin: Russo's hopes fade after UWCL exit

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?

Power rankingsWomen's football
UWCL W+Ls GFX

Winners & losers from the dramatic UWCL semi-finals

With 20 goals across the four games, and late drama at the end of both ties, it's fair to say the 2025-26 Women's Champions League semi-finals delivered. Out of them emerged Lyon, the eight-time winners, and Barcelona, the three-time champions, to set up a truly mouth-watering final in Oslo on May 23, in which there will be so many fascinating storylines.

Winners & LosersBarcelona
Alexia Putellas Aitana Bonmati Barcelona Bayern Munich composite

Putellas stars & Bonmati returns as Barca reach UWCL final

Barcelona will face Lyon in the Women's Champions League final after beating Bayern Munich 4-2 on Sunday, for a 5-3 win on aggregate in the semi-finals. The German champions gave the three-time winners a tough match last week but the Catalans asserted their authority at Camp Nou, as goals from Salma Paralluelo, Ewa Pajor and an Alexia Putellas brace set up a fourth UWCL final between Barca and Lyon.

BarcelonaBayern Munich
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Kim Little Jule Brand Leah Williamson Arsenal Lyon Women composite

Arsenal suffer late heartbreak as European title defence ends

Arsenal's Women's Champions League title defence came to an end in Lyon on Saturday, as the eight-time winners exacted their revenge on the Gunners after losing to them at this stage last season. Buoyed by the returns of both Selma Bacha and Melchie Dumornay, OL raced into a 2-0 first half lead and though Alessia Russo did get Arsenal back level on aggregate, Jule Brand's late strike secured a 4-3 win for Lyon over the two legs that puts them into an incredible 12th UWCL final.

Player ratingsArsenal Women
Leah Williamson Arsenal Women 2025-26

England captain Williamson set to renew expiring Arsenal contract

Arsenal icon Leah Williamson is set to sign a new contract at the club, extending her already 20-year stay with her childhood team. The Lionesses captain is one of the Gunners' most important players, but her current deal was set to expire in just a few weeks' time. According to a report, though, Arsenal are now on the verge of agreeing new terms with their star defender.

L. WilliamsonArsenal Women
Leah Williamson Arsenal GFX

Williamson a risk worth taking in Arsenal's UWCL charge

As Arsenal hosted Lyon in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final, there was no shortage of bad news when it came to team news. Steph Catley hadn't recovered from a calf injury in time to participate, with Beth Mead also ruled out of the game due to personal reasons. Then, on the day, Chloe Kelly was absent due to a minor muscle issue. Fortunately, there was one huge returnee to cushion the various blows: Leah Williamson.

Arsenal WomenL. Williamson
Olivia smith Arsenal Lyon composite

Smith comes up big as Arsenal take lead in UWCL semis

Arsenal will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Lyon, after the defending European champions beat the eight-time winners 2-1 in north London on Sunday. Jule Brand had given OL an early lead but two calamitous errors in the visitors' defence proved costly, as Ingrid Engen's own goal levelled the scores up to set the scene for Olivia Smith, who had been a livewire all afternoon, to win the game late on.

Player ratingsArsenal Women
Lindsey Heaps Lyon GFX

USWNT trailblazer Heaps deserves fairy-tale finish at Lyon

Lindsey Heaps has done a lot of incredible things in her career to date. With the United States women’s national team, she has won the World Cup, and at she has lifted another 12 major titles at club level, including the Champions League. But perhaps her biggest impact on the sport has been her trailblazing efforts for U.S. women’s soccer, in more ways than one.

USAOL Lyonnes
Steph Catley Beth Mead Arsenal Women split

Arsenal without Mead & Catley for UWCL semi-final

Arsenal will be without Beth Mead and Steph Catley for the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final against Lyon this weekend, with the latter's absence placing further focus on the fitness of the recently returned Leah Williamson. The England captain played her first minutes in over a month while on international duty last week, the timing of which could be potentially vital for the Gunners' European title defence.

Arsenal WomenB. Mead
Mariona Caldentey Arsenal GFX

Arsenal ace Caldentey still has time to boost Ballon d'Or bid

When Arsenal stunned Barcelona to win the Women's Champions League last year, there were so many individuals who deserved to be singled out for praise. Be it the exceptional turnaround overseen by interim-turned-permanent coach Renee Slegers, the goal-scoring exploits of Alessia Russo or the timeless class of Kim Little in midfield, there were so many reasons for the success. It was hard, though, not to be drawn in particular to the impact of Mariona Caldentey.

Arsenal WomenM. Caldentey
Georgia Stanway Bayern Munich GFX

How Lionesses star Stanway revived her career at Bayern

Almost every footballer's career has a sliding doors moment, and Georgia Stanway's came in the summer of 2022. It's remarkable to think now, given her role in the England team and her status as one of the best midfielders in the game, but as that year's European Championship approached, Stanway was not in Sarina Wiegman’s starting XI.

G. StanwayBayern Munich

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Pronostic Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur 19/05/2026 : les deux équipes assurent leur maintien
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Alexia Putellas Ona Batlle Barcelona Women split

Barca's Batlle nears Arsenal move as Putellas attracts WSL interest

Barcelona are reportedly 'close' to losing star defender Ona Batlle to Arsenal on a free transfer, with speculation surrounding the futures of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and key centre-back Mapi Leon also growing as the pair near the ends of their current contracts in Catalunya. London City Lionesses have shown interest in both, as the newly-promoted Women's Super League side look to make a splash in the summer transfer window.

BarcelonaArsenal Women
Aitana Bonmati Barcelona Women 2025-26

Bonmati returns to Barca training ahead of Bayern clash

Barcelona have been handed a huge boost in their chase for the quadruple with the news that Aitana Bonmati has returned to training. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner has been sidelined since late November after suffering a leg fracture that required surgery but she is back with the team now, just days before Barca's Champions League semi-final showdown with Bayern Munich.

BarcelonaA. Bonmati
Leah Williamson England Women 2026

Williamson injury update provided ahead of Lionesses' Iceland clash

England boss Sarina Wiegman has provided an update on the fitness of Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, who missed the win over Spain on Tuesday night. Wiegman was hopeful that the Arsenal star would be able to play a part in Saturday's clash with Iceland, as England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign, and the status of her availability has now been revisited ahead of that crucial game.

L. WilliamsonEngland
Lotte Wubben-Moy England gfx 16:9

Wubben-Moy deserves Lionesses start in crucial Spain clash

Next week, at Wembley Stadium, the two best national teams in European women's football will meet once more as England, winners of the last two European Championship titles, welcome Spain, the reigning world champions. It'll be their sixth competitive encounter in less than four years and it again brings with it huge stakes as the two bid for the one automatic qualification spot from their group for next summer's World Cup. That England could be without their captain, Leah Williamson, then, is a huge blow.

AnalysisEngland
Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC - UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-finals Second Leg

McCabe 'apologetic' over Thompson hair-pull

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers has confirmed she held private talks with Katie McCabe following the defender's controversial altercation with Chelsea winger Alyssa Thompson. The incident, which occurred during the Gunners' Women's Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, saw the Ireland international escape punishment from the referee and VAR.

K. McCabeArsenal Women
GFX Chelsea drawing board

Back to the drawing board for Chelsea! UWCL winners & losers

And then there were four. One of Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich or Lyon will be crowned winners of the Women's Champions League next month, after the quartet progressed through an enthralling quarter-final stage over the past week. Bayern will take on Barca later this month while holders Arsenal will face Lyon, with the winners to meet in the final in Oslo, Norway, at the end of May.

Winners & LosersChelsea FC Women
Alyssa Thompson Sonia Bompastor Chelsea Women

Bompastor fumes at McCabe hair pull as Chelsea exit UWCL

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor pulled out her mobile phone during a post-match interview to showcase video evidence of a controversial officiating decision. The Blues boss was left incensed after Arsenal defender Katie McCabe escaped punishment despite pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair in the closing stages of their Women's Champions League quarter-final.

S. BompastorChelsea FC Women

Frequently asked questions

Spanish dark horses Sevilla are currently the most accomplished club in Europa League history, winning the competition seven times. Los Nervionenses won their maiden title in 2006, beating Middlesbrough 4-0 in the final. They defended their crown in the next season, before completing a hattrick of wins in 2014, 2015, and 2016 under Unai Emery.

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams. Traditionally, all games were two-legged knockout ties. From 2004 to 2009, 40 teams competed. In the 2009-10 season, when the UEFA Cup was rebranded as the Europa League, a total of 48 teams featured.

Inter Milan legend Giuseppe Bergomi, with 96 appearances, holds the record of making the most Europa League appearances in history.

If we consider goals scored in qualifying games, then Swedish icon Henrik Larsson leads the charts with 40 goals. However, without qualifying games taken into account, it's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is Europa League's top goalscorer ever with 34 goals.

Sparta Prague legend Borek Dockal has the most assists in Europa League history. Dockal made an impressive 24 assists in 62 games in the competition.

Ratko Svilar is the oldest player to ever have featured in the Europa League, with the former Antwerp man taking to the pitch at the age of 44 years and 130 days.

Former Swedish striker Roger Lindevall is the youngest player to ever appear in a Europa League game. Lindevall was just 15 years and 335 days when he came on as a substitute for Djurgardens IF in their 2-1 win over Feyenoord on September 29, 1976.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cristiano Ronaldo, Granit Xhaka, Rui Patricio, Giuseppe Bergomi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Dimitri Payet, and Florian Wirtz are among the most famous players to have featured in the Europa League.

Unai Emery, Jose Mourinho, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Giovanni Trapattoni, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Simeone are some of Europa League's most famous managers ever.

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