Women's Champions League matchday 1: Heavyweight clashes, former players return & more
By Ali Rampling
The Women's Champions League group stages begin this week, with an assortment of mouthwatering ties to look forward to.
European heavyweights go head to head, former fan favourites return to face their former clubs and a selection of sides make their group stage debuts.
Here's everything to look out for on matchday one of the Champions League.
European heavyweight matchups
The first gameweek of Champions League action has thrown up a pair of heavyweight clashes; reigning champions Lyon host Arsenal - the only English side ever to have won the competition - on Wednesday, and 2021 runners up Chelsea travel to two-time beaten finalists PSG.
Together, Arsenal and Lyon boast a seven of the top 14 players from the 2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist - although the pair's star-studded squads have both been hit by injury. Arsenal will be without first choice centre back pairing Leah Williamson and Rafaelle, while Lyon's extensive injury list consists of Ada Hegerberg, Catarina Macario, Sara Dabritz, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Ellie Carpenter, Griedge Mbock and Delphine Cascarino. Amel Majri also hasn't returned since having her first child.
“It’s a reality check, to see where we are and how we have developed and that is very exciting to see," said Jonas Eidevall. "When you play a team like Lyon you can’t think that you will be in total control for the whole game. You have to think that you will be in control for some moments but so will Lyon.
"We will face more shots on target than we have been recently, we will face more set pieces than we have been recently, so this game will be very different and we need to deal with that.”
Lyon vs Arsenal
When is kick off? Wednesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Groupama Stadium
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Former WSL stars in Champions League action
A selection of former WSL stars who moved to Europe over the summer could make their Champions League debuts for their new sides during match day one.
Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh could make their European bows for Barcelona following their summer switches from Manchester City. Barcelona host Benfica on Wednesday evening at Johan Cruyff Stadium - their final two home Champions League group fixtures will be at Camp Nou.
Jackie Groenen, Georgia Stanway and Caroline Weir have all made their Champions League bows for new sides PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively during qualifying - the latter netted the decisive goal to eliminate former side Manchester City - but could make their group stage debuts for their new clubs following their summer moves. Weir has already scored seven goals in seven appearances for Real - including four during Champions League qualification.
Bayern Munich vs Rosengard
When is kick off? Wednesday 19 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is the match being played? FC Bayern Campus
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Vllaznia vs Real Madrid
When is kick off? Thursday 20 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Loro Boriçi Stadium
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Reunions with former clubs
Arsenal will come up against Danielle van de Donk for the first time since her 2021 departure to Lyon when they travel to the French champions on Wednesday evening. The midfielder was a hugely popular figure during her five and a half years in north London, winning the WSL title with the Gunners in 2019.
Van de Donk joined Lyon in the summer of 2021, and although her first season in France was disrupted by a foot injury, she returned just in time to land a Champions League winners medal.
Chelsea will face former striker Ramona Bachmann when they take on PSG on Thursday evening. The forward spent three and a half years with the Blues - but her frustration over a lack of game time during her final season with the club was visible in the recently released Chelsea documentary One Team, One Dream.
Grace Geyoro will likely captain PSG on Thursday evening, having been the subject of interest from Chelsea during the summer transfer window. The French international admitted that the interest was mutual, but a move never materialised.
PSG vs Chelsea
When is kick off? Thursday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Stade Jean-Bouin
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Champions League debutants
Four teams are making their Champions League group stage debuts in the 2022/23 competition: Vllaznia, Roma, Slavia Prague and St Polten.
Vllaznia are the first Albanian team to reach the last 16 of any Uefa competition since KF Tirana back in 1989, while St Polten are the first Austrian team to reach the Champions League group stages.
Slavia Prague have reached the last 16 before, but this is their first time in the group stages under the new format - which was introduced last season.
Wolfsburg vs St Polten
When is kick off? Thursday 20 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is the match being played? AOK Stadion
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Roma vs Slavia Prague
When is kick off? Thursday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Stadio Domenico Francioni
TV channel/livestream? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube
Highlights? DAZN UEFA Women's Champions League YouTube