The Women’s Champions League, unlike the Men’s version, does not contain a group stage. In other words, the matches are do-or-die right from the get-go.
In some ways, the competition makes for crisp viewing and stiff competition with the teams starting with the round of 32. Here is everything that you need to know about this year’s Women’s Champions League:
Participating Teams
Bye to Round of 32
- Lyon (FRA, holders)
- Wolfsburg (GER)
- Barcelona (ESP)
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
- Bayern München (GER)
- Manchester City (ENG)
- Slavia Praha (CZE)
- Chelsea (ENG)
- Rosengård (SWE)
- Atlético Madrid (ESP)
- Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)
- Brøndby (DEN)
- LSK Kvinner (NOR)
- BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ)
- Zürich (SUI)
- Sparta Praha (CZE)
- Fiorentina (ITA)
- Ajax (NED)
- Göteborg (SWE)
- Juventus (ITA)
- PSV Eindhoven (NED)
- Servette (SUI)
First Qualifying Round
- Glasgow City (SCO)
- FC Minsk (BLR)
- St. Pölten (AUT)
- ŽFK Spartak (SRB)
- Gintra Universitetas (LTU)
- Apollon LFC (CYP)
- SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH)
- Universitatea Olimpia Cluj (ROU)
- PAOK (GRE)
- Anderlecht (BEL)
- Okzhetpes (KAZ)
- Ferencváros (HUN)
- Vllaznia (ALB)
- Vålerenga (NOR)
- Valur (ISL)
- Górnik Łęczna (POL)
- CSKA Moskva (RUS)
- Pomurje Beltinci (SVN)
- NSA Sofia (BUL)
- WFC-2 Kharkiv (UKR)
- Mitrovica (KOS)
- Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
- Breznica Pljevlja (MNE)
- SL Benfica (POR)
- Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon (ISR)
- HJK Helsinki (FIN)
- KÍ Klaksvík (FRO)
- ŽNK Split (CRO)
- Flora Tallinn (EST)
- Peamount United (IRL)
- ALG Sport Kulübü (TUR)
- Linfield (NIR)
- Rīgas Futbola skola (LVA)
- Swansea City (WAL)
- Birkirkara (MLT)
- Agarista – SS Anenii Noi (MDA)
- Alashkert (ARM)
- Lanchkhuti (GEO)
- Racing FC Union (LUX)
- Kamenica Sasa (MKD)
Important Dates
- First qualifying round draw: 12:00 CET, 22 October, Nyon
- First qualifying round: 3/4 November 2020
- Second qualifying round draw: 12:00 CET, 6 November, Nyon
- Second qualifying round: 18/19 November 2020
- Round of 32 draw: 12:00 CET, 24 November, Nyon
- Round of 32: 8/9 & 15/16 December 2020
- Round of 16 draw: 18 December 2020
- Round of 16: 3/4 & 10/11 March 2021
- Quarter-final & semi-final draw: 12 March 2021
- Quarter-finals: 23/24 March & 31 March/1 April 2021
- Semi-finals: 24/25 April & 1/2 May 2021
- Final: 16 May 2021 (Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg)
How the Tournament Works
The 22 teams given a bye to the Round of 32 have been determined as per the access list. The rest of the 40 teams, which include the champions from the other 38 associations, as well as the runners up from Kazakhstan and Norway, will compete for the remaining ten spots in the knockout stages.
These teams will face off first in the first and the second qualifying rounds, which will be contested as single-legged ties. The ten teams remaining join the seeded teams in the round of 32.
Once the official knockout stages begin, a two-legged home and away fixture schedule will be followed until the final.
The tie to determine the winner of this season’s Women’s Champions League will take place in Gamla Ullevi, Gothenborg.
