Man City to face Chelsea in Women’s Champions League quarters

Manchester City will face Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League, while Arsenal have been drawn against Real Madrid.

Chelsea, the reigning champion of the Women’s Super League (WSL), will play in City in the first leg before taking on Gareth Taylor’s side in the second leg.

Arsenal, winners of the competition’s previous format in 2007, will host the second leg against Real Madrid after qualifying as group winners.

Three English teams have made it to the last 16 for the first time.

Due to their semi-final draw against Bayern Munich and Lyon, Arsenal will avoid meeting a fellow English team until the final because they have already been drawn.

The winner of the match between Wolfsburg, the former champion of Germany, and Barcelona, will either Chelsea or City face off.

Due to the draw, Chelsea and City will face off four times in three competitions in 12 days.

The two clubs compete in the WSL on March 15 and the League Cup final on March 23.

On March 19, Manchester will host City and Chelsea’s first match of the Champions League quarter-final match at 20:00 GMT, and London will host the second match at the same time on March 27.

Arsenal’s quarter-final first leg against Real in Spain will be played on 18 March at 17: 45 GMT with the second leg kicking off at 20: 00 on 26 March.

When City manager Taylor predicted the draw, “we knew what the outcome would be – one of three teams.”

“It’s strange to play them four times in a row, but it’s a fun challenge. They have had a really strong start to the season, despite not being defeated by us. We will certainly face a difficult challenge.

Chelsea were 2-0 winners when the two sides met in November’s WSL match.

If both sides win their games this weekend, there is the potential that they are drawn against each other in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals. With those scheduled for 9 March, the teams have the option of playing each other in five more games.

“I am used to that”, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said of playing City in close succession.

“When I was in France, Lyon and PSG engaged in this kind of conflict. We played them seven times last season. I find it beneficial to have this experience. They will face them in various games, which I believe will be different.

Manchester City v Chelsea

Real Madrid v Arsenal

Wolfsburg v Barcelona

Quarter-finals

First leg: 18-19 March

Second leg: 26-27 March

Semi-finals

First leg: 19-20 April