MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 16:09:33| >> :60:3031:3031:

Arsenal's Champions League fate revealed as women's qualifying draw made

Who will Arsenal play in Women's Champions League qualifying?
© Reuters
Arsenal are drawn to face Rangers in the first qualifying round of the Women's Champions League before a potential second-round showdown against Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal Women have discovered their opening opponents for the 2024-25 Women's Champions League qualifying path, and Jonas Eidevall's side have been handed a particularly challenging draw.

On account of finishing third in the Women's Super League season, the Gunners have to play a total of four qualifying matches just to make it to the group stage of Europe's premier competition.

After being knocked out by Wolfsburg in the 2022-23 semi-finals, Arsenal failed to make it past the qualifying rounds last season, suffering an agonising defeat to French outfit Paris FC on penalties.

As the third-best WSL team in the 2023-24 campaign, Arsenal were drawn into the league path for Friday's qualifying draw, and their first opponents will be Scottish giants Rangers in the Group 3 semi-finals.

The Blue Belles topped the standings in the first phase of last season's Scottish Women's Premier League, only to settle for second behind Celtic on goal difference following the Top Six/Bottom Six split.

Managed by Jo Potter - who spent one year as an Arsenal player during the 2003-04 season - Rangers reached the second round of qualifying in the 2022-23 campaign, beating Ferencvaros and PAOK before losing to Benfica in the Champions Path.

Arsenal Women manager Jonas Eidevall celebrates after the match on November 5, 2023© Reuters

Arsenal to face Spanish giants if they beat Rangers

If the Gunners are successful in their endeavours against Rangers, they will progress to the round one final, where either Atletico Madrid or Rosenborg will be standing in their way of progression.

Atletico also finished third in the 2023-24 Liga F season behind Real Madrid and champions Barcelona, and they made the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2019-20, their best result at the competition to date.

Meanwhile, Rosenborg finished as runners-up to Valerenga in the 2023 Toppserien - in addition to winning their ninth Norwegian Cup - and they were on the verge of reaching the 2022-23 group stage before losing to Real Madrid in their final qualifying encounter.

Arsenal's round one semi-final against Rangers takes place on September 4, three days before a potential meeting with Atletico or Rosenborg in the final on September 7.

Should the Gunners make it through to round two of qualifying - the draw for which takes places on September 9 - the first leg of that tie will take place on September 18/19 before the return battle on September 25/26.

All of Juventus, Hacken, Paris Saint-Germain, Wolfsburg, Real Madrid and Manchester City - who announced the signing of ex-Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema on Friday - will enter the qualifying competition in the round two League Path.

ID:547511:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3993:

Click here for more stories about Jonas Eidevall

Click here for more stories about Atletico Madrid

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal Women's Vivianne Miedema warms up in November 2023
Read Next:
Vivianne Miedema to leave Arsenal at end of season
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!