Monday, December 20, 2021
Attractive WCL quarter-finals
PSG for Bayern, Arsenal for Wolfsburg
The top teams in the women’s Bundesliga get big names in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but it is always sporty. In the concert of the major European clubs, which have long dominated the women’s premier class, there are further attractive pairings.
The soccer women of FC Bayern will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, VfL Wolfsburg will face Arsenal. That was the result of the draw in Nyon. In the other two duels, Juventus Turin and record winner Olympique Lyon as well as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona face each other. The first legs will take place on 22./23. March, the second leg on 30./31. March. The German champions FC Bayern will initially play at home as runners-up in the group, while VfL will only play away as group winners. PSG had won their group with the perfect result of 18 points from six games before Real Madrid, while Arsenal FC had just managed to get through in second in their group against tied TSG Hoffenheim.
The possible semi-final pairings were drawn at the same time. Bayern and Wolfsburg can only meet in the final in Turin. The Munich women could meet group opponents Lyon again if they advance. But Juve is also possible. Wolfsburg would face Real or Barça in the semifinals.
Strange group constellation
Curious: While the progression of group runner-up FC Bayern had already been determined after the fourth match day, group winners VfL Wolfsburg had to tremble for the knockout round in its preliminary round until the last second. Only with a clear win against Chelsea did you qualify for advancement on the home straight.
The leaders of the Bundesliga defeated last year’s finalists from London 4-0 (2-0) and thus jumped from third to first place in Group A. The Wolves also eliminated Chelsea from the German national player Melanie Leupolz. Coach Emma Hayes said she “didn’t recognize her team”, according to the BBC. As with the men, there is also a lot of unrest in Chelsea’s women’s team over the Covid outbreak. “Those are really difficult moments for a coach when so many players are playing so badly and they are so confused,” said Hayes.
Since Italy’s champions Juventus Turin defeated the underdog Servette FC from Switzerland at the same time, it was clear that VfL needed a win with a two-goal margin. In the end, a rating of all direct duels between Wolfsburg, Chelsea and Juventus decided on progress. Ultimately, the English women, who were the front runners on this final day of the game, got hit.