Barcelona kicks off its quest for a third consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League title on Wednesday, with the rest of Europe strategizing on how to dethrone the Catalans. Led by standout players Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, the team is coming off a triumphant victory in May, where they defeated Lyon 2-0 in the final held in Bilbao.
Barcelona has firmly established itself as a dominant force in women’s football, having secured three of the last four Champions League titles and reaching five of the last six finals. Their resilience was evident in their recent victory over Lyon, a team that previously dominated the competition with a record eight titles.
Despite their success, Barcelona faces challenges as they prepare for the new season. Coach Jonatan Giraldez has departed to take the reins at Washington Spirit in the NWSL, making way for Pere Romeu, who has been appointed as head coach. Romeu’s first challenge will be an away match against Manchester City. Sporting director Marc Vives expressed confidence in the internal appointment, stating that “Pere Romeu gives us the continuity necessary to give the project stability.”
In a bid to strengthen their squad, Barcelona has signed prolific Polish striker Ewa Pajor, who was the top scorer in Germany last season while playing for Wolfsburg. However, the club has seen some departures, including England right-back Lucy Bronze, who transferred to Chelsea, and Mariona Caldentey, a World Cup-winning forward who has signed with Arsenal. On a positive note, both Bonmati and Putellas have extended their contracts, ensuring that two key players remain part of the squad. Vives emphasized their importance to the club’s identity: “It is key that they’re staying, not only in terms of football, but because they create Barca’s identity.”
English Clubs Poised to Challenge
The primary competition for Barcelona may come from England, where three clubs—Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal—have advanced to the 16-team group phase of the tournament. Chelsea, the only English side to reach the finals in the past 17 years, will be aiming to bounce back from a 2021 defeat to Barcelona. Having dominated the Women’s Super League for the last five years, Chelsea will look to make a strong impact, despite the departure of long-serving coach Emma Hayes. Her successor, Sonia Bompastor, previously led Lyon to Champions League glory in 2022.
Manchester City, bolstered by the addition of prolific Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, will face a tough test against Barcelona in their group, which also includes Austria’s St. Pölten and Sweden’s Hammarby. Barca coach Romeu commented on the upcoming matches, saying, “Everything that has been done so far, and to have won Champions Leagues, has a lot of merit. But now another reality begins.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, faces a challenging path in Group C, where they will compete against German champions Bayern Munich and Juventus. Gunners coach Jonas Eidevall criticized the scheduling of the Women’s Super League, expressing concerns that it could hinder their European aspirations: “Do the league want English teams to be successful at European level? I would hope the answer to that would be ‘yes,’ but the actions show differently.”
Lyon and Other Contenders
Lyon, now led by new coach Joe Montemurro, aims to reclaim its status as a top contender. The team retains star power with former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg and USA midfielder Lindsey Horan, along with Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga. Lyon faces tough competition in their group, which includes Wolfsburg, Roma, and Galatasaray.
As the competition unfolds, this season marks the last in its current format before UEFA introduces an 18-team league stage for the 2025 season. This change aims to enhance the structure of the tournament, similar to the revamped men’s Champions League, along with the introduction of a second women’s club competition from 2025.
With Barcelona aiming to continue its reign in European football, the stage is set for an exciting season in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
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