Expanded 18-team league phase launches UEFA Women's Champions League

The revamped UEFA Women's Champions League begins Tuesday with an expanded, league‑phase format and a high‑profile opening slate that includes defending champion Arsenal hosting eight‑time winner Lyon at Emirates Stadium. The competition runs through May, features 18 teams playing six league matches each, and will be shown across a new broadcast agreement that organizers say will make all matches widely available to fans.

UEFA has replaced the old group stage with an 18‑team league phase in which each club plays six fixtures against different opponents, three at home and three away. The top four clubs will advance directly to the quarterfinals, teams finishing fifth through 12th will enter a knockout playoff to decide remaining quarterfinal places, and the bottom six will be eliminated. The league phase comprises 54 games and leads into a knockout schedule that culminates with the final at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo next May.

The opening match list features several marquee fixtures. Arsenal face Lyon in a rematch of last season’s semifinal, Barcelona travel to Bayern Munich, Juventus host Benfica at Allianz Stadium, and Chelsea begin at FC Twente. Manchester United open at...