UWCL discussion points: Will Arsenal defend their championship? Is Manchester United overlooked?
The initial legs of the playoffs for a spot in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League delivered excitement, with a total of 16 goals scored over four matches this week.
Defending champions Arsenal seem to be on the verge of advancing to the last eight following their 4-0 triumph at Oud-Heverlee Leuven, as do their Women’s Super League counterparts Manchester United after their 3-0 win against Atlético Madrid.
However, the other two matchups are much more competitive: Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory at Paris FC but allowed a late goal, giving their French rivals a glimmer of hope to reverse the situation, while two-time European champions VfL Wolfsburg and Juventus played to a 2-2 stalemate in Germany.
Continue reading as ESPN analysts Emily Keogh, Alex Kirkland, and Connor O’Halloran share their insights on some pressing questions.
Q1: Arsenal have found form at the right time. Is it good enough to defend their UWCL title?
Keogh: Arsenal are beginning to find their rhythm after a challenging start to the season. The reigning champions aimed to secure a top-four finish in the league phase and anticipated a smoother path to the final, but inconsistent performances and a lack of resilience have made their task more difficult.
The winter break provided players with a chance to rest, enabling the coaching staff to implement some tactical adjustments, and the team now appears revitalized. They have fought their way back into the WSL title race, which will undoubtedly have generated momentum heading into their playoff. Although there remains a significant gap between them and WSL leaders Manchester City, this could prove beneficial if the team’s primary objective is to defend their European title. Sacrificing another domestic title may be necessary to retain the trophy.
play1:58Arsenal demolish OH Leuven 4-0 in knockout playoff first leg
Arsenal defeat OH Leuven 4-0 in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League knockout playoffs.
Kirkland: There is still a considerable journey ahead, and they will encounter much stronger opponents than this. However, it is clear that Arsenal is among the contenders for the UWCL title this season. Championship-winning teams typically find their best form between February and May, gaining unstoppable momentum, and recent weeks have shown promising signs for Arsenal. As Emily mentioned, the WSL may be an unrealistic target at this point, allowing them to focus entirely on the UWCL. Chelsea in the quarterfinals will present the true challenge.
O’Halloran: Not long ago, it seemed Arsenal’s season could have been largely over by now. As Emily noted last month, Arsenal faced an eight-game stretch across four competitions that would define their season. Yet, they have largely risen to the occasion. A semifinal exit from the League Cup against Manchester United was followed by winning the inaugural FIFA Champions Cup, defeating Chelsea and Manchester City to keep the WSL title race somewhat alive and nearly securing their place in the Champions League quarterfinals. Arsenal has demonstrated in recent weeks—similar to the end of last season—that they can defeat any opponent on their day.
play2:07Real Madrid come from behind to win playoffs first leg vs. Paris FC
Real Madrid defeat Paris FC 3-2 in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League knockout playoffs.
Q2: Real Madrid came from a goal behind to beat Paris FC. Are they finally showing an elite mentality?
Keogh: Real Madrid’s European record is a significant underachievement for a team with such a strong pedigree. They have consistently fallen short, never progressing beyond the quarterfinals, largely due to an inability to close out matches. They failed to advance past the group stage in consecutive seasons, and last year they relinquished a 2-0 lead in the quarterfinals, allowing Arsenal to overturn the tie and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory after the second leg.
There is little evidence to suggest they have learned from these setbacks. The composure and resilience necessary at this level still seem to be lacking. Had they managed to avoid conceding late, Madrid would now be in a strong position; instead, another mistake could jeopardize their chances of advancing, and they would have only themselves to blame.
To be considered a team with a truly elite mentality, they must exhibit significantly more grit and control. They have shown they can fight—most notably securing a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg with just nine players—but their recurring issue is inconsistency. Too frequently, strong starts unravel due to lapses in concentration, undermining the progress they work so hard to achieve.
Kirkland: There were many positive aspects to this Madrid performance: going a goal down early, away from home, in challenging weather, and demonstrating the mental fortitude to turn the match around. Yes, they will regret conceding that 89th-minute goal when they were close to securing the tie, but in previous seasons, I would not have expected Madrid to even find themselves in a position of having a commanding 3-1 lead.
Gradually, Madrid are progressing towards where they need to be; however, there is still much work ahead. It is unfortunate but inevitable that they will always be evaluated based on their name and the club’s extensive European trophy collection, rather than the relative novelty of the women’s team.
O’Halloran: There are arguments on both sides, but I would contend that any team that allows a late goal while leading 3-1 still has some work to do. The fatigue of the players was evident with Maeline Mendy’s late goal, which allowed Paris FC to retain some hope heading into the second leg in Spain. There were six Madrid players either near or behind the ball when Paris regained possession, but Madrid were far too slow to respond, and it cost them. While credit is due for rallying from a goal down, they still face a challenge to progress to the quarterfinals.
play2:32Late Wolfsburg stunner rescues draw vs. Juventus
Wolfsburg score in added time to rescue a 2-2 draw against Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout playoff clash.
Q3: The knockout phase always brings out big performances. Who impressed you most in playoff first-leg matches?
Keogh: Jess Park has been a significant influence for United since her summer signing. Although she did not score, she has been a tireless contributor for the team, creating numerous opportunities for United. I believe their current level of performance would not be as high without her dictating the pace and control in midfield, enabling the forwards to score with ease.
Kirkland: I enjoy watching Linda Caicedo. She possesses immense talent and is increasingly becoming a game-changer for Real Madrid. Madrid’s second goal in Paris showcased her ability to collect the ball, advance it, and then deliver the right pass at the right moment, while the third highlighted her speed and precise finishing. If there is one player you want to see with the ball at her feet, it is Caicedo. You can be confident she will create something.
O’Halloran: Melvine Malard deserves recognition: she delivered an outstanding performance in Madrid. She contributed to all three of United’s goals—passing to Elisabeth Terland and Julia Zigiotti Olme for their excellent strikes and scoring one herself with a perfectly placed curling shot from the left side of the 18-yard box. She has now been involved in six goals over her last four matches across all competitions.
play2:28Man United ease past Atletico Madrid in playoff first leg
Manchester United defeat Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout playoff clash.
Q4: Man United are set to make the quarterfinals in their first-ever UWCL. Does their debutante status make any difference?
Keogh: Many people underestimated Manchester United this season. They have not always been close to the WSL title contenders in recent years, but having returned to top-flight football in 2018, the fact that they are now on the brink of the Champions League quarterfinals is quite remarkable.
The underdog mentality has proven effective in this competition—Arsenal won the Champions League final with little expectation of defeating Barcelona—and perhaps the element of having nothing to lose as debutants has worked in their favor.
This is not to say they have not been diligent behind the scenes, but they have also benefited from the new format, which was designed to provide smaller, less experienced teams with an opportunity. Their success may not have been as pronounced if the Swiss format had not been implemented in time for their debut.
Kirkland: A word of caution: United’s opponents in this playoff, Atlético Madrid, are not particularly strong. Their results this year include a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona and a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid. They currently sit fifth in the Liga F table, 23 points behind the leaders. Therefore, I would advise against reading too much into this 3-0 victory for United. However, I was genuinely impressed with the team and coach Marc Skinner when I watched their previous encounter in October. They should not feel constrained by participating in this competition for the first time. It is almost a free opportunity: go for it, without fear.
O’Halloran: It’s haircut time at Manchester United … but not for the men’s team or The United Strand. Terland and Maya Le Tissier’s haircut celebration perfectly illustrated the team’s current mood: United are unbeaten in all competitions since their match against Lyon in the league phase, and they have won their last six games, culminating in Thursday’s flawless all-around team performance.
Moreover, that celebration occurred just three minutes into the match following Terland’s brilliant opener. United may be embarking on their inaugural Women’s Champions League campaign, but they exude confidence. Perhaps the lack of any past scars is advantageous.
