The UEFA Women’s Champions League returns this week with knockout ties for the likes of Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica and Atletico Madrid.
This marks the first of two rounds before the 16-team group stage which starts in October. It is split into two paths: the champions path and the league path.
In both, the first round consists of two stages of one-off knockout matches played in single-venue mini-tournaments. The semi-finals come on Wednesday 4 September before the third place play-offs and finals on Saturday 7 September.
The winners of each final progress to the second round, which will decide the 12 teams joining holders Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the group stage. The second round draw is scheduled to take place on Monday 9 September.
16 teams enter at this stage, including the runners-up from the associations ranked seventh to 16th and the third-placed teams from the associations ranked first to sixth.
Each club competes in a four-team mini-tournament. The winners of the four finals progress to Round 2, which PSG, Wolfsburg, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Juventus and Hacken all have direct entry into. Five group stage places will be on offer in Round 2.
Group 1
Hosts: Brondby
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 13:00
Ajax vs Kolos Kovalivka
04/09/2024 – 17:00
Brondby vs Florentina
07/09/2024 – 11:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 15:00
Final
Group 2
Hosts: Linkoping
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 13:00
Paris FC vs First Vienna
04/09/2024 – 18:00
Sparta Prague vs Linkoping
07/09/2024 – 12:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 17:00
Final
Group 3
Hosts: Arsenal
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 12:00
Atletico Madrid vs Rosenborg
04/09/2024 – 19:30
Arsenal vs Rangers
07/09/2024 – 12:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 19:30
Final
Group 4
Hosts: Breidablik
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 15:00
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Sporting CP
04/09/2024 – 20:00
FC Minsk vs Breidablik
07/09/2024 – 13:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 18:00
Final
A total of 43 teams enter at this stage, including the champions of the associations ranked eighth and below. They will compete in 11 single-venue knockout mini-tournaments.
The winners of the 11 finals progress to Round 2, which Slavia Praha, Roma and Hammarby have direct entry into. Seven group stage places will be on offer in Round 2.
Group 1
Hosts: SFK Sarajevo
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 10:00
SFK 2000 Sarajevo vs KI Klaksvik
04/09/2024 – 16:00
Benfica vs Nordsjaelland
07/09/2024 – 10:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 16:00
Final
Group 2
Hosts: Lanchkhuti
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 15:00
Vllaznia vs Lanchkhuti
04/09/2024 – 15:00
St. Polten vs Neftci
07/09/2024 – 14:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 17:00
Final
Group 3
Hosts: Gintra
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 10:00
KuPS Kuopio vs Celtic
04/09/2024 – 16:00
Gintra vs Anenii Noi
07/09/2024 – 10:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 16:00
Final
Group 4
Hosts: Birkirkara
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 16:45
Anderlecht vs Red Star
04/09/2024 – 20:15
Breznica vs Birkirkara
07/09/2024 – 16:45
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 20:15
Final
Group 5
Hosts: Twente
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 12:00
Valur vs Ljuboten
04/09/2024 – 18:00
Twente vs Cardiff City
07/09/2024 – 11:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 17:00
Final
Group 6
Hosts: Apollon LFC
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 15:00
Mura vs Glentoran
04/09/2024 – 19:30
Apollon LFC vs Pyunik
07/09/2024 – 15:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 19:30
Final
Group 7
Hosts: Pogon Szczecin
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 11:00
PAOK vs Qiryat Gat
04/09/2024 – 19:00
Servette FCCF vs Pogon Szczecin
07/09/2024 – 11:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 19:00
Final
Group 8
Hosts: Racing Union
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 12:00
BIIK-Shymkent vs NSA Sofia
04/09/2024 – 18:00
Racing Union vs Galatasaray
07/09/2024 – 12:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 18:00
Final
Group 9
Host: Osijek
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 10:00
Dinamo-BSUPC vs Peamount United
04/09/2024 – 16:00
Osijek vs Spartak Myjava
07/09/2024 – 10:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 16:00
Final
Group 10
Hosts: Ferencvaros
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 11:00
Vorskla Poltava vs RFS
04/09/2024 – 15:30
Ferencvaros vs Flora
07/09/2024 – 11:00
Third-place match
07/09/2024 – 15:30
Final
Group 11
Hosts: Constanta Lighthouse
Date / Kick-off time (BST)
Fixture
04/09/2024 – 16:00
Mitrovica vs Farul Constanta
04/09/2024 – 13:00
Valerenga vs Mitrovica / Farul Constanta
Event / Round
Date
Round 2 draw
9 September (Nyon)
Round 2
First leg: 18/19 SeptemberSecond leg: 25/26 September
Group stage draw
27 September (Nyon)
Group stage
Matchday 1: 8/9 OctoberMatchday 2: 16/17 OctoberMatchday 3: 12/13 NovemberMatchday 4: 20/21 NovemberMatchday 5: 11/12 DecemberMatchday 6: 17/18 December
Quarter-final & semi-final draw
7 February (Nyon)
Quarter-finals
First leg: 18/19 MarchSecond leg: 26/27 March
Semi-finals
First leg: 19/20 AprilSecond leg: 26/27 April
Final
23, 24 or 25 May (TBC) (Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon)
