The UEFA Girls’s Champions League is again and this time with a brand new format, elevating the competitors. Gone are the standard teams, and in is the league section with a single desk with 18 groups, the place every staff performs six matches in opposition to six completely different opponents. CBS Sports activities is the official dwelling of the UWCL, and followers can watch each match throughout Paramount+ with choose video games on CBS Sports activities Golazo Community.
From the opening matches on Tuesday to the ultimate in Oslo, Norway, in Could, golf equipment will battle for a spot within the knockout rounds. Reigning title holders Arsenal and European giants OL Lyonnes and FC Barcelona will get into the combination with underdogs able to upset. However which groups are probably the most highly effective, and the place do they stand forward of the match?
Easy methods to watch
Paramount+ might be a one-stop store for all issues Champions League, whereas CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community may have choose matches and extra protection. Every day’s broadcast begins with UEFA Girls’s Champions League At present on each Paramount+ and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community earlier than the early kickoffs, whereas Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network may have an hour-long pre-match present earlier than the later matches. Put up-match protection will air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, whereas CBS Sports activities Golazo Community may have a brand new version of Scoreline to shut out the day’s motion.
CBS Sports activities’ new UEFA Girls’s Champions League At present studio present might be anchored by Hannah Money, whereas Jen Beattie, Janelly Farias, Darian Jenkins, Kelley O’Hara, and Ali Riley will function analysts. Chris Wittyngham will deal with play-by-play duties and might be paired with Beattie and Jenkins, whereas Anita Jones will report pitchside and Christina Unkel will function the principles analyst.
This is the place groups stack up forward of the league section:
1. Arsenal
The reigning title holders get the glory of the highest spot to begin the league section and a goal on their again, as each membership will convey their high recreation in opposition to them. This time there is a full season to construct over with supervisor Renee Slegers and a extra attacking depth with Oliva Smith as their massive switch transfer.
2. OL Lyonnes
The French giants look again and higher than ever after a busy switch window that noticed them pluck expertise from a number of golf equipment throughout Europe, together with France rivals Paris Saint-Germain, and the arrival of recent head coach Jonatan Giraldez. Ahead Marie Antoinette Katoto is a high top-scoring menace, and the additions of Jule Model and American Lily Yohannes might be an issue for opposing groups.
3. FC Barcelona
A full of life offseason for the Catalonians, however not for the explanations they needed. Loads of penny-pinching participant departures throughout the roster highlighted the dearth of participant motion into the membership, however the membership nonetheless has its most popular starters beneath contract. Nonetheless, the dearth of depth would possibly turn out to be a difficulty down the stretch.
4. Chelsea FC
The Blues discover themselves among the many favorites within the match, however there’s a urgent query about whether or not or not that is their time to shine. Naomi Girma’s arrival in January had a restricted influence because of harm, and the membership made extra strikes, bringing in fullback Ellie Carpenter and winger Alyssa Thompson. It is not now or by no means, but it surely’s positively about can they ever do it when everybody else in entrance of them can be as stacked?
5. Bayern Munich
There is a stage of being right here earlier than and a gifted roster that place Bayern Munich among the many high 5, however the brand new league section format may see them drop rapidly. They’ve German nationwide staff stalwarts in Klara Bühl and Lena Oberdorf, and worldwide skills Vanessa Gilles and Georgia Stanway, however a troublesome run of matches in opposition to Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain might be a tricky situation.
6. Wolfsburg
Regardless of consecutive offseasons the place they misplaced some massive names, that is nonetheless an unyielding Bundesliga facet to go up in opposition to. Regardless of the departure of Model to OL in Could and Ewa Pajor to Barcelona final summer time, this group nonetheless has Alexandra Popp and twin midfielder wreckers in Ella Peddemors and Janina Minge.
7. Juventus
Most likely probably the most bold rating right here, which is extremely influenced by a number of Italian nationwide staff gamers on the roster, with Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea. The group will hope that a few of their 2025 Euros momentum will spill over, mixed with a considerably manageable league section draw. The addition of former Arsenal midfielder Lia Wälti is an equally skilled addition for the league section.
8. Actual Madrid
With a roster that everybody ought to anticipate extra from, it is really Actual Madrid’s league section to excel or battle with. With the brand new addition of Sara Dabritz to an already gifted facet with Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo, and the brand new head coach, Pau Quesada, it is previous time for extra from this facet within the Champions League.
9. Roma
Completely right here for a pestering Roma to shake issues up throughout the match. They’ve a league section draw with some actual 50-50 possibilities, and star participant Manuela Giugliano is in high type because the competitors kicks off. If others round her may elevate their performances, they may shock some opposing groups.
10. Paris FC
For a facet that misplaced some massive items in goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and winger Kessya Bussy, they’re nonetheless going to be a tenacious facet within the league section. Ahead Clara Mateo is producing for the staff forward of the competitors. They appear extra positioned for a run on the proper time than their neighbors at PSG.
11. Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid have quietly risen again into Champions League type after Actual Madrid’s arrival and Barca’s elite reign. They took down final 12 months’s match underdog favorites BK Hacken and are rising as disruptors in Liga F. Luany and Fiamma Benitez are thrilling younger gamers, however the lack of match expertise may very well be a difficulty down the stretch.
12. Manchester United
Head coach Marc Skinner has continually been vocal concerning the franchise’s lack of spending to get high-caliber skills to the membership, however this is not a roster of nobodies. Getting Fridolina Rolfo is a significant improve, and the Crimson Devils hope that Elisabeth Terland can sustain her goalscoring throughout the match.
13. Paris Saint-Germain
A staff that when was a bona fide contender within the match confirmed indicators of screeching halt final 12 months as a substitute of a sluggish burn. They misplaced Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Korbin Shrader, and Grace Geyoro. They welcomed Crystal Dunn, Olga Carmona, and Rasheedat Ajibade, however they already appear to be a staff that wants time to gel. Not an incredible signal with a tough league section attract entrance of them.
14. Benfica
The Portuguese title winners are an actual wild card within the upcoming league section, with some grueling video games in entrance of them. They’ve had highs and lows throughout their Champions League appearances, from wild attracts in opposition to Barcelona to a quarterfinal look to not qualifying in any respect. Supervisor Ivan Baptista might want to determine the right way to hold striker Cristina Martín-Prieto ready to succeed.
15. Twente
The ten-time Dutch champions are again within the combine after an underwhelming historical past within the match. They will have some robust challenges within the new league section in opposition to Chelsea and Arsenal, and possibly even Spanish sides Atletico Madrid and Actual Madrid. Veteran Jill Roord brings the expertise and the playmaking to vary video games.
16. St. Polten
The Austrians are not any strangers to Champions League competitors, however they simply have not been capable of contest sufficient to succeed in the knockouts. With a brand new format comes the chance for thrilling upsets to be extra prevalent, however they’re coming off six consecutive exits throughout the spherical of 32, and the brand new league section means extra up-close and private head-to-heads with juggernauts like Chelsea FC and OL Lyonnes.
17. Vålerenga
The Norwegian facet might be motivated by a Champions League closing in Oslo in Could, however this group is completely beginning as lengthy photographs. With an absence of match expertise, they’re going to hope to upset of their league section competitors, having prevented the “massive 4” within the draw.
18. OH Leuven
The squad gained their first Belgian league trophy and can goal to make historical past within the Champions League. They’re the primary Belgian facet to take part within the group stage or league section, and the debutants are additionally long-shot varieties to rally behind.
