Women’s Champions League 2023-24: Group previews, prediction

Tuesday marks the start of the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage and there are huge matches to be played.

Although many expect to see world champions Barcelona as well as record holders for most titles (8) Lyon, there could be some surprises along the way and it wouldn’t be the first time in the competition.

So how will this all play out? Sophie Lawson assessed each group, breaking down the stories, picking out the must-see matches and predicting which teams will make the knockout stages.

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GROUP A

Group A features some of the same ties as last season’s competition, as Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona shared a group with Portugal’s Benfica and Sweden’s Rosengård, who came bottom and are likely to do so again given their Championship season ends this weekend. On title.

It also marks a new era as German side Eintracht Frankfurt make their group stage debut. Long-time fans of women’s football know that the team was formerly 1. FFC Frankfurt and held the record for Champions League titles (4) before Lyon overtook them, but they merged with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2020 and thus start from scratch.

Matches not to be missed: Benfica v Eintracht (December 13, December 21)

Although Benfica are growing every season, they have understandably struggled to contain the impressive Barcelona in the past, so these are the fixtures that will likely decide who qualifies with the Catalans.

While Benfica have fallen into a comfortable situation that allows them to dominate Portugal (they have won the last four league titles and have five wins from five games this season), Frankfurt tend to struggle with consistency and this season they have has three wins out of six for fifth place in the Frauen-Bundesliga. But if things come together for the Germans, they can really put on a show.

Player to watch: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)

Winner of the Ballon d’Or this year, there isn’t much more to say about Bonmatí. A key part of Barcelona’s midfield who orchestrates and directs matches while working in harmony with her teammates, the 25-year-old is the heart of the team.

Prediction

Barcelona are very good at navigating European relationships and although they have had a few surprises in recent years, they should finish top of this group.

If Frankfurt can balance the travel and extra matches that come with playing in Europe, then their quality in attack could be telling, as was the case in the first qualifying round against Juventus when they weathered a storm to win on penalties.

1. Barcelona
2. Eintracht Frankfurt
3. Benfica
4. Rosengard

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GROUP B

Considered the ugly duckling of this season’s group stage, some wonder why the likes of Czech Slavia, St. Pölten of Austria and Brann of Norway (all league champions) are involved when bigger teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Wolfsburg and Juventus. (All second and third places in their respective leagues) do not. The simple answer is that by being top of their league, they found themselves on a different path and won their qualifiers. And now they have a real chance to go far.

French giants Lyon are an exception in the group thanks to their remarkable history in Europe and will almost certainly finish first thanks to their squad depth, match schedule, competition experience and good old ruthlessness. But the other three fixtures should be interesting given Slavia’s domestic season ends on Friday and Brann’s on November 18, so they will struggle to prepare.

Match not to be missed: St. Pölten v Slavia (December 13)

The two clubs faced each other in the group stage last season and little separated them. Mária Mikolajová’s 91st-minute goal was enough to give St. Pölten victory in Prague, before a 1-1 draw in Austria. This time around, they will likely fight tooth and nail for second place and the stakes are a little higher.

Player to watch: Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)

Having left Stade de Reims this summer, Dumornay already looks comfortable in Lyon’s attack and adds more depth to one of the most talented teams in the world. An intelligent midfielder who does not hesitate to step forward to shoot on goal, the Champions League will be a good opportunity for the Haitian World Cup star to show his qualities.

Prediction

Lyon will finish first. They have faced an injury crisis since the start of last season but that won’t stop them.

Otherwise, Brann is at a disadvantage, the schedule also being relatively new to the competition, while Slavia, who will have to play all their group stage matches outside of their league season, could well snatch it away from St. Pölten . thanks to their rich experience at UCL.

1. Lyon
2. Slavia Prague
3. St. Pölten
4. SK Brann

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GROUP C

This is a box office group. There are many first time meets and clubs with different styles, so experience and self-confidence can dictate how things go. But given the caliber of opposition, it’s a diabolical draw for Ajax of the Netherlands, who are expected to struggle to qualify for the final spot.

Must-see match: Roma v Bayern Munich (January 24)

Although Roma vs PSG and Bayern vs PSG can produce interesting results, the matchup to watch features both teams in the best form right now. Both seem to understand how their coaches want them to play; There is an ease in the style of the Italians which risks destroying the benefits of Bayern’s experience in Europe. Roma are six out of six in the league, while the German side have won four and drawn one to date.

Kicking off the group, the match is likely to be a battle for ball dominance and the winners will have to take their chances. But the return match on the last day could be decisive.

Player to watch: Tabitha Chawinga (PSG)

One of the best scorers in women’s football, Chawinga’s loan to PSG from Chinese club Wuhan Jianghan University FC should be enough to remind us of her talent. Resolute in her quest for goals, the Malawi star’s thirst for attacking football will be key for PSG this season as she always provides an option for her teammates.

Prediction

With their flexible and attractive attacking style, Roma should finish top of the group.

Although Bayern lost two matches to PSG in their two meetings in Europe (in the quarter-finals of 2016-17 and 2021-22), PSG approaches the matches in disarray, lacking the confidence and incision of previous incarnations. As long as Bayern can take advantage of this, they should rank second.

1. Rome
2. Bayern Munich
3. Paris Saint-Germain
4. Ajax Amsterdam

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GROUP D

The group has another tie from last year, Chelsea v Real Madrid, and the Blues are now the third (of three) Women’s Super League teams to have had to face a Paris team in the Champions League this season – Arsenal was sent. by Paris FC in the first round of qualifying, while Man United fell victim to PSG in the second round.

Paris FC have a history in the competition before being absorbed by their current club (some may remember them as FCF Juvisy before 2017), but earned their place with a shock victory over runners-up from last season, Wolfsburg, in the second round.

While Häcken’s Swedish side are unlikely to challenge, the question is whether Paris FC can bring their best football in two meetings with Chelsea and Real Madrid to sneak into second place.

Match not to be missed: Chelsea v Real Madrid (January 24)

Perhaps a predictable or boring choice, Chelsea vs Real Madrid is still key.

The performance of Las Blancas in Madrid to seal a 1-1 draw last season was one of the best they have managed so far in the Champions League. As they develop, the Liga F finalists will need to be able to compete against teams like Chelsea if they want to progress. Although missing star midfielder Caroline Weir, there is a depth of talent in the Real Madrid squad that should be enough to see them compete with the Blues. And the scheduling of the first and last matchdays makes this one an intriguing prospect.

Player to watch: Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea)

A talented player on a talented team, Nüsken’s prowess and adaptability in midfield have already attracted attention. Chelsea’s squad has been built so that every player is one to watch, but the 22-year-old Germany international has impressed since her move from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer.

Prediction

Unexpected package from the Champions League so far this season, Paris FC will be hoping to achieve a few more surprising results. But given that they were recently beaten 6-1 by Lyon in a league match, the worry is that they won’t be able to match the quality of Chelsea and Real Madrid.

As the Swedish season ends this weekend, Häcken are hamstrung like their Rosengård counterparts: they also lost coach Robert Vilahamn to Tottenham, while Renee Slegers left Rosengård to join Arsenal as an assistant this summer. Häcken could well find himself on the floor of the group as Chelsea claim first place and Real Madrid find enough to qualify in second place.

1.Chelsea
2. Real Madrid
3. Paris FC
4. BK Hacken