Women’s champions league: Arsenal beat Leuven, eye possible clash with Chelsea in quarter-finals

Arsenal could face Chelsea in an all-English quarter-final of the Women’s Champions League, provided they overcome Belgian side Leuven in the play-off round, Sport360NG reports.

Chelsea, winners of the Women’s Super League, secured automatic entry to the quarter-finals after finishing in the top four of the league stage alongside European heavyweights Barcelona, Lyon, and Bayern Munich.

Manchester United, making their debut in the competition, will face Atletico Madrid in their play-off tie, with the victor set to meet German champions Bayern Munich in the last eight.

Eight-time champions Lyon are also positioned in the same half of the draw as Chelsea and Arsenal, awaiting the winner of the Wolfsburg-Juventus tie. Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up Barcelona, three-time competition winners, could meet Manchester United in the semi-finals after their quarter-final clash against either Paris FC or Real Madrid.

Both English clubs enter the knockout rounds with confidence, having already beaten their respective opponents in the league stage. Arsenal defeated Leuven 3-0 in October, while Manchester United edged Atletico Madrid 1-0.

The two-legged play-offs are scheduled for 11-12 February and 18-19 February, with quarter-final matches set for 24-25 March and 1-2 April.

Women’s Champions League Knockout Stage Fixtures

       Play-offs

• Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
• Paris FC vs Real Madrid
• Leuven vs Arsenal
• Wolfsburg vs Juventus

  Quarter-finals

• Winner of Atletico Madrid/Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
• Winner of Paris FC/Real Madrid vs Barcelona
• Winner of Leuven/Arsenal vs Chelsea
• Winner of Wolfsburg/Juventus vs Lyon