Introducing our six Women's Champions League opponents

The draw for this season’s Women’s Champions League has provided us with six opponents, some of which we have plenty of history with as well as some new faces.

We’ll be facing sides from France, Spain, Portugal, Norway and Italy as we look to get back to the final. As the dust settles on the draw, here's our guide to our league phase opponents!

LYON

How they qualified: French champions Best European Cup performance: Winners (2010/11, 2011/12, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22) Last season: Runners-up

Eight-time champions Lyon reached their 12th final last season, with competition appearance record-holder Wendie Renard having played in every one. They lost the Oslo showpiece to Barcelona – the former club of OL coach Jonatan Giráldez.

Head-to-head: P9 W3 D0 L6

Our first meeting with Lyon came away from home in April 2011’s semi-finals, when we lost 2-0 thanks to a brace from Lotta Schelin. Our first win over them came in October 2022 - a resounding 5-1 success at Groupama Stadium.

They’ve been a frequent opponent of ours in recent years. We knocked them out of 2024/25’s semi-finals, before they got revenge on us at the same stage last season.

BARCELONA

How they qualified: Holders, Spanish champions Best European Cup performance: Winners (2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2025/26) Last season: Winners

Last season Barcelona became the first club to reach the final for a sixth year running, beating Lyon 4-0 in Oslo to claim their fourth title. They face their first European season without the departed Alexia Putellas, who played at least once in the previous 14 campaigns since the team's 2012/13 debut.

Head-to-head: P6 W3 D0 L3

September 2012 saw us meet Barcelona for the first time and we put three past them without reply at Estadi Johan Cruyff, the goals coming from Jen Beattie, Jordan Nobbs and Katie Chapman. One week later, we beat them 4-0 at home.

Barcelona got the better of us twice in 2021, winning 4-1 and 4-0, but of course they were the opponent for arguably the greatest result of our club’s history, when we won 1-0 in the 2024/25 Champions League final.

BENFICA

How they qualified: Portuguese champions Best European Cup performance: Quarter-finals (2023/24) Last season: League phase

Benfica ended 16th in the league phase last year but they kept up their record of ending top in every domestic season they have played in since their 2018/19 foundation, securing their second Portuguese double.

Head-to-head: P1 W1 D0 L0

Our first ever game against Benfica took place away from home last season, when second-half strikes from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo secured a 2-0 win at Estadio da Luz.

PARIS FC

How they qualified: French runners-up Best European Cup performance: Semi-finals (2012/13, as Juvisy) Last season: Knockout phase play-offs

Last season Paris FC finished ahead of Paris Saint-Germain to claim France's second direct league phase berth for 2026/27. They reached the inaugural knockout phase play-offs in 2025/26, exiting to Real Madrid.

Head-to-head: P2 W1 D0 L1

We failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League in 2023/24 after Paris FC knocked us out of the first qualfying round in Linkoping, beating us 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 3-3 in extra-time.

We did play them in pre-season this year, winning 1-0 at Meadow Park thanks to Olivia Smith’s 91st-minute strike.

HB KOGE

How they qualified: Danish champions; 4-1 h vs Riga, 2-1 h vs Hearts, 2-1agg vs PSV (1-0 a, 1-1 h) Best European Cup performance: Group stage (2021/22) Last season: Women's Europa Cup second qualifying round

HB Koge previously reached the old group stage in the inaugural season of 2021/22 and completed their first Danish domestic double in 2025/26.

Head-to-head: P2 W2 D0 L0

We played HB Koge twice during the 2021/22 campaign, winning 5-1 away from home with Steph Catley, Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord, Anna Patten and Jordan Nobbs all on the scoresheet.

Then, we won 3-0 at home, Vivianne Miedema, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Foord all among the goals.

INTER MILAN

How they qualified: Italian runners-up; 3-3agg, 5-4pens vs Wolfsburg (0-2 a, 3-1 aet h) Best European Cup performance: Second qualifying round third place (2025/26) Last season: Second qualifying round third place, Women's Europa Cup round of 16

Founded in 2018, Inter made their European debut last season, losing to Brann in their Champions League second qualifying round semi-final. This time they have qualified for the league phase after defeating two-time champions Wolfsburg on penalties despite losing the first leg 2-0, and having to equalise again late in extra time.

Head-to-head: P0 W0 D0 L0

This will be our first ever meeting with Inter Milan.

Ticket information for all these matches will be announced shortly.