UEFA Women’s Champions League, the hot spots of J2 | UEFA Women’s Champions League

The 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage returns already on November 22-23. Here’s what awaits us.

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Quadruple winner against the title holders

If Barcelona has been the dominant force in this competition since 2020, and Lyon dominated the 2010s, Frankfurt was the queen team of the 2000s. Under the name 1. FFC Frankfurt before its merger with Eintracht, the club German won the inaugural edition of 2001/02 before adding two titles to his record in 2005/06 and 2007/08, then signing his fourth coronation in 2014/15, making him the most successful behind Lyon at this time. day.

In recent years, the Germans have rarely reached serious contention in this competition, but they are now in the group stage for the first time after knocking out clubs like Juventus and Sparta Prague in qualifying, then opening their campaign in the competition itself by winning 2-1 against Rosengård. Plenty of fans will be expected in the stands at Frankfurt Stadion, where the home club sealed their 2008 triumph over then-main rival Umeå, as Barcelona visit after kicking off their title defense with a 5-game win -0 on Benfica.

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern on the relaunch

Barcelona are not the only team to lose in Bavaria in the group stage. Before this season, Bayern even had a perfect home record in the competition. But that run came to an end last Wednesday when they squandered a two-goal lead to concede a 2-2 draw against Roma, dropping points at home in a group that leaves no room for error.

Paris Saint-Germain, who seemed on the right track after beating Manchester United in Round 2, may have already burned their joker after their 2-0 loss to supposedly Group C outsiders Ajax. runners-up recovered from an opening day defeat last season to qualify alongside Chelsea, and knocked out Bayern twice in the quarter-finals.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see these two teams in the knockout stage for the sixth consecutive season, even after their respective opening day disappointments. Recruits like Tabitha Chawinga in Paris and Magdalena Eriksson at Bayern suggest that these teams intend to claim final victory for the first time in their history. A triumph which could seem well understood in the event of a setback at the Stade Jean Bouin on Thursday…

Häcken aims for a second surprise

Group C is vying for ‘Group of Death’ status with Group D, as the opening salvo of matches highlighted with the 2-2 draw between Real Madrid and Chelsea as well as the stunning 2-1 victory of Häcken on Paris FC. The Swedish team seemed to be the underdogs of the group, but could already take an option on qualification when Real Madrid visits Gothenburg.

Häcken suffered three home defeats at the Hisingen Arena in the group stage two years ago, conceding a total of nine goals. In fact, in the three home-and-away knockout matches he has played since the start of the 2021/22 season, Häcken has fared better on the road than at home. If the Swedes can end this run on Thursday, they will have a good chance of reaching their first quarter-final in over a decade (they did so twice as Göteborg FC).

The victory in Paris was all the more impressive as it came just four days after conceding the Swedish league title to Hammarby on goal difference. But the achievements of Rosa Kafaji and Anna Sandberg, both 20 years old, then the superb performance of goalkeeper Jennifer Falk as the PFC pushed to come back to the score certainly gave confidence to this surprising Häcken team.