UWCL discussion points: Has Chelsea’s season been unsuccessful? Madrid falters against Barcelona.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) quarterfinals have concluded, revealing several surprising outcomes and contentious calls to analyze.
Chelsea expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating and VAR regarding the failure to issue a late red card to Arsenal for a hair pull, yet their 1-0 victory was insufficient to overcome a 3-2 aggregate loss. Meanwhile, UWCL newcomers Manchester United led for a significant portion of their match against Bayern Munich but conceded twice in the last 10 minutes, resulting in a 2-1 defeat for the evening and a 5-3 exit overall.
In the matches on Thursday, Barcelona decisively defeated rivals Real Madrid 6-0, securing their place in the semifinals with a 12-2 aggregate score, while OL Lyonnes required extra time to achieve a 4-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg, reversing their 1-0 loss from the first leg.
This sets up a semifinal lineup of Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes and Barcelona vs. Bayern. Emily Keogh, Tom Hamilton, and Sam Marsden address some pressing questions.
Was VAR the sole factor in Chelsea’s match against Arsenal, and does this season now count as a failure?
Hamilton: In this specific match, VAR did not significantly influence the outcome, as the notable hair pull by Katie McCabe on Alyssa Thompson occurred in the 94th minute. Clearly, McCabe should have received a red card, and the match warranted better officiating. However, her absence in the final moments would not have guaranteed Chelsea a second goal. Unlikely.
The missed red card was not the reason for Chelsea’s elimination. The more detrimental decision was the disallowance of Veerle Buurman’s goal just before halftime in the first leg. However, that alone does not explain their inability to overcome the two-goal deficit on Wednesday.
Chelsea lacked clinical finishing, failing to position Lauren James effectively to threaten the opposition, while Arsenal’s goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar delivered an outstanding performance. She executed a series of remarkable saves, including one that deflected a Sam Kerr shot over the bar, another that blocked a powerful shot from James, and the most impressive: redirecting Sjoeke Nusken’s header onto the post.
Van Domselaar’s exceptional goalkeeping was crucial for Arsenal, indicating that Chelsea’s shortcomings in the second leg extended beyond just VAR. Overall, Chelsea’s season is deemed a failure. Sonia Bompastor had expressed a desire to win all four trophies at the season’s outset, yet the two most significant (Champions League and WSL) will remain out of reach.
Keogh: Two truths can coexist: the officiating was subpar, VAR was not utilized correctly, and Chelsea squandered too many chances to merit a win.
The issues from the first leg appeared to drain Chelsea of both energy and confidence. Following the controversial disallowance of Buurman’s goal, they entered the second leg at a disadvantage — and, from their viewpoint, largely due to circumstances beyond their control. Consequently, the intensity and sharpness that typically characterize their play were not fully evident.
Nonetheless, external factors can only account for so much, and their inability to convert opportunities ultimately proved decisive. Regardless of VAR’s impact, it was inadequate to waste so many chances. Both the players and Bompastor recognized their lack of precision in front of goal, which is a significant source of frustration for fans.
This season will be regarded as a failure because Chelsea did not meet the standards they have established for themselves. While there are mitigating factors — such as a lengthy injury list and off-field issues — context does not excuse the deficiencies displayed on the pitch.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor presented a video clip in her post-match interview, asserting that Katie McCabe should have been sent off for a hair pull on Alyssa Thompson.
Bompastor herself received a red card during the match for dissent after reacting to the referee’s decision not to halt play. pic.twitter.com/BoGHE2tCPs
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 2, 2026
Marsden: Setting aside VAR, this season represents a regression and a failure for Chelsea — irrespective of whether they secure two domestic cups.
After dominating the Women’s Super League, clinching eight of the last 10 titles, the next objective for several years has been to capture the Champions League. They have come close, reaching the semifinals in each of the last three seasons, and seemed to be narrowing the gap with established powerhouses Barcelona and Lyonnes. However, that is no longer the case. Despite significant investment in the squad, the team has not progressed under Bompastor.
Even though Arsenal are the reigning champions, a quarterfinal exit to a domestic rival would have been deemed unacceptable for Chelsea at any point in recent history. They will not even have the WSL to rely on this year.
play1:33Arsenal’s McCabe escapes a red card for Thompson hair pull
Sonia Bompastor sees red after Arsenal’s Katie McCabe isn’t shown a red card despite a hair pull on Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson.
Are Bayern Munich the most prolific late scorers in UWCL history, or was Manchester United simply fatigued?
Keogh: It was a combination of both. Bayern have learned from numerous painful exits at this stage what it takes to prevail, while United were operating at their limits.
Bayern executed their strategy effectively; they recognized that United’s bench options were limited and that maintaining intensity for the entire 90 minutes would be challenging. Set pieces have consistently been a weakness for United, and Bayern clearly exploited that.
There is also a broader trend: United have conceded six goals in the closing stages of Champions League matches — the highest of any team — indicating their struggle to maintain leads, a problem that has also emerged domestically. Although Bayern would not have intended to concede early and struggle in the first half, their second-half performance, coupled with United’s retreat in their fatigued state, worked to their advantage. Thus, it results from a mix of factors.
Bayern have displayed ruthlessness and notable maturity this season, demonstrating clear advancement from previous campaigns. United, on the other hand, were stretched thin and gave their all, but ultimately, it was insufficient.
Marsden: The German team has been exceptionally dominant in the second halves of matches in Europe this season. They have a competition-high eight goals scored after the 75th minute — tied with Wolfsburg, who have played two additional matches — and another three goals between the 60th and 75th minute. This means over 50% of their 19 goals in this year’s competition have come in the final 30 minutes of matches.
They have included a last-minute winner at Juventus, three goals in the final half hour of their comeback win against Arsenal, and four goals after the 70th minute across the two ties with United.
This has been a clear demonstration of mental strength from José Barcala’s squad, who have impressively bounced back from a 7-1 defeat to Barça on opening day in September to set up a rematch in the semifinal.
Hamilton: In the first leg, Bayern’s substitutes helped them maintain pressure on United, with Momoko Tanikawa’s introduction in the second half being pivotal. She played a crucial role in shifting the tie back in Bayern’s favor, and her winning goal set them up well for the second leg. In Munich, United’s limited squad depth was again exposed as Bayern finally broke through in the last 10 minutes.
United simply lack the depth to compete in both the league and Europe, so it is commendable that they reached this stage. When comparing the strength of Bayern’s bench to United’s: United had only four outfield players among their substitutes, while Bayern had the luxury of leaving Sweden’s Magda Eriksson, Poland’s Natalia Padilla, Austria’s Barbara Dunst, Spain’s Edna Imade, and promising young talent Luzie Zahringer all unused on the bench.
Moreover, the two players they did utilize — Denmark’s Stine Ballisager and Italy’s Adrianna Caruso — possess significant experience. The disparity is stark.
play1:30Le Tissier frustrated to see Man United eliminated by Bayern set pieces
Maya Le Tissier reflects on Manchester United’s first ever Women’s Champions League campaign after defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
What steps can Real Madrid take to narrow the gap with Barcelona? This week was particularly disappointing…
Marsden: The most apparent solution is to invest more money, recruit better players, and enhance squad depth. However, as coach Pau Quesada noted following a disheartening week of Clásicos, this is not a straightforward task.
“Of the best 20 players in the world, maybe 10 are here [at Barça],” he stated. “So if you want to sign better players, it’s very challenging.”
The frustration for Madrid lies in the fact that it seemed they had begun to close the gap. A second consecutive Champions League quarterfinal appearance following a promising league phase — including a narrow 2-1 loss to Arsenal in London — clearly indicates progress. This upward trajectory was sparked by last March’s victory over Barça — their first and only Clásico win — but this week has felt like a regression, with the 12-2 aggregate defeat in the Champions League coinciding with a 3-0 loss to Barça in Liga F.
For this reason, a significant mental reset may be necessary this summer, as much as any financial investment, to recover from what has been a challenging eight days.
Keogh: This situation mirrors the inquiries directed at Manchester United manager Marc Skinner after his team’s 5-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern. In the aftermath, he remarked that sometimes it takes “a punch in the face to wake up,” calling for increased investment from the club to keep pace with competitors. That analogy seems fitting here.
A 12-2 aggregate defeat should serve as a wake-up call for Real Madrid. With 24 losses in 25 encounters, the trend is impossible to overlook. One might expect that after repeated setbacks, change would have already occurred, but perhaps the nature of this loss, failing to register a single shot on target in the second leg and being thoroughly outplayed by their fiercest rivals, will finally compel action.
Numerous explanations have been offered for the disparity between the clubs, but recognizing the issue without addressing it risks becoming a repetitive narrative. For an organization as influential and successful as Real Madrid, this must be the moment that inspires genuine commitment. Anything less will only widen the gap further.
Hamilton: The contrast between the two teams could not be more pronounced. A crowd of 60,067 fans filled Camp Nou on Thursday to witness the great Alexia Putellas score the opener on her 500th appearance. In contrast, the first leg last week in Madrid attracted only 4,203 fans.
Madrid lacks a player of Putellas’ caliber, let alone one who has been integral to the team’s culture and development from the beginning. Madrid did not manage a single shot on target in Barcelona, with the hosts now winning 24 of their 25 encounters. It was a humbling experience that highlighted the gulf between the two sides.
So what can Real Madrid do? Begin building immediately. This requires a comprehensive approach: invest in the playing squad, recruit quality players for both the present and future, and enhance the academy. Additionally, focus on the mentality of the group, ensuring that Linda Caicedo remains committed to her contract through 2030. This process will not happen overnight. Currently, they are competing in the same league, but functioning on entirely different levels.
play2:03OL Lyonnes book Arsenal semifinal after late win vs. Wolfsburg
OL Lyonnes advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals after a 3-1 aggregate win over Wolfsburg.
Lyonnes have displayed some vulnerabilities this season; do they possess enough to overcome Arsenal?
Keogh: In my view, OL Lyonnes currently has the strongest squad in the competition. Some of the challenges in their hard-fought second-leg victory can be attributed to a team still adjusting under Jonatan Giráldez, who is less than a season into his role and is still figuring out how to best utilize the depth and quality available to him. These appear to be growing pains rather than fundamental flaws.
Lyonnes’ capacity to persevere against Wolfsburg — accumulating 37 shots and still finding a way to score, even if it required extra time — exemplifies why they are eight-time champions. They also limited Wolfsburg’s opportunities, albeit aided by a subpar game plan, and their late surge of goals emphasized a key trait: when under pressure, they find a way to succeed.
A challenging test awaits against the defending champions Arsenal, whom they defeated 2-1 in the league phase. Lyonnes will have an additional point to prove in the semifinals following last year’s elimination at the hands of the Gunners, but they can draw confidence from that earlier victory.
Hamilton: The second leg followed a familiar pattern for Lyonnes: substantial possession, numerous chances, but insufficient returns on the scoreboard. This has been a recurring theme for them in this tournament, where they have often been too wasteful in front of goal. Therefore, if they aim to advance past Arsenal, their ruthless edge must be evident.
There is no doubt that Lyonnes has the quality to win the entire tournament. Prior to Barcelona’s dominant performance against Real Madrid, I believed Lyonnes could have a relatively smooth path to the title. The French side’s array of attacking talent is impressive, and they possess quality throughout their lineup. Their depth is likely the envy of nearly every other team in the tournament, and they have the experience of having won this competition multiple times.
However, Arsenal is a confident team with their own share of exceptional players. They are also the reigning champions. Thus, this matchup promises to be intriguing. Lyonnes certainly has the capability to surpass Arsenal, but they must perform at their best.
Marsden: Consider some of the players Lyonnes brought off the bench to secure their win against Wolfsburg in extra time: Melchie Dumornay, Damaris Egurrola, Tabitha Chawinga, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Dumornay, Egurrola, and Chawinga all found the net, while Katoto provided an assist. Their depth should be the envy of Europe.
Nonetheless, there is a sense that they have not yet reached their full potential under Giráldez. They are dominating the French league once again but faced challenges in the league phase against Juventus and required an additional 30 minutes to finally overcome Wolfsburg after suffering an unexpected defeat in Germany last week.
That said, they were deserving winners, with an xG of 5.99-1.53 over the two legs, and they enter as favorites against Arsenal. However, predicting the outcome of the tie is complex. The added motivation of Lyonnes seeking revenge for last year’s loss to the Gunners, who seem to possess a different aura during Champions League nights, adds to the intrigue.
