Arsenal Women Face Leuven Rematch In UWCL Play-offs As Chelsea Tie Looms

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Arsenal are set for a swift rematch with Leuven in the Women’s Champions League play-offs, after being drawn together in Thursday’s draw. Victory in that tie would set up a major London showdown with Chelsea in the quarter-finals, with the Blues already confirmed as one of the automatic qualifiers.

The Gunners ended the league stage with a 3-0 win away to Leuven on Wednesday, yet still missed the top four. Bayern Munich’s 3-0 success over Valerenga meant Arsenal finished fifth in the 18-team standings. That position ensured the holders secured a seeded spot for the two-legged play-offs.

Manchester United also received a familiar opponent in the Women’s Champions League play-offs, having been paired with Atletico Madrid, a team United have already beaten this season. Elsewhere in the draw, Wolfsburg will meet Juventus, while Paris FC have been matched with Real Madrid in another notable tie.

The potential quarter-final line-up in the Women’s Champions League features several high-profile paths. If Arsenal defeat Leuven, they will meet Chelsea in an all-Women’s Super League clash. Manchester United will play Bayern Munich should United advance past Atletico Madrid, while the winner of Wolfsburg versus Juventus will face Lyon.

There is also the possibility of a Women’s Champions League Clasico later in the competition. Barcelona could face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, if Los Blancos progress from their play-off against Paris FC. The draw therefore offers several chances for meetings between traditional rivals across Europe.

Key Women’s Champions League play-off and quarter-final paths are shown below for clarity.

Around 1,000 Arsenal supporters travelled to Belgium for the recent Women’s Champions League group finale against Leuven. The match at Den Dreef Stadium drew a record attendance of 9,825, underlining the rising profile of the competition and reflecting how interest in women’s football continues to grow across Europe.

Renee Slegers highlighted the scale of the occasion and the significance for the Women’s Champions League after the game. "Yeah, it was a special night. So two records. It was us, the champions of Europe, playing against a team making their debut. And I think the way they have been performing, it's really impressive. It says everything about how the game is growing. A team from Belgium is doing this and they're also through to the knockout phase. So I think it's a special moment, a big moment for women's football. But of course, it was about the football and I'm happy we took the three points. Now it's about recovery, getting back to London and prepare for the last one, and we look forward to getting started in the League Cup as well."

Arsenal now balance Women’s Champions League ambitions with domestic plans. Arsenal visit Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Women’s League Cup on Sunday, their final fixture of 2025. A WSL game with Manchester United follows on January 10, adding another demanding test before the European play-offs begin.