UWCL and Conti Cup Review: Arsenal, Chelsea & PSG book their place in the quarter-finals

Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG booked their spot in the next stage of the UWCL; while unfortunate weather in England saw Conti Cup games postponed. 

Read our wrap of all the action!

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UWCL

Group A

Kicking with Group A action, Sam Kerr's Chelsea maintained their unbeaten record in this UWCL season and booked their spot in the quarter-finals after a 4-0 win over Vllaznia. 

Katerina Svitkova of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Sam Kerr after scoring her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League group A match between K.F.F Vllaznia and Chelsea FC at Loro Borici Stadion on December 16, 2022 in Shkoder, Albania. (Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Katerina Svitkova of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Sam Kerr after scoring her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League group A match between K.F.F Vllaznia and Chelsea FC at Loro Borici Stadion on December 16, 2022, in Shkoder, Albania. (Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Kerr made the start for Emma Hayes' side, after scoring four goals in the Blues' last outing against the Albanian-based side. The visitors found the back of the net twice in the opening 20 minutes to take a 2-0 lead going into the break, with Sophie Ingle and Fran Kirby getting their names on the scoresheet. 

Kateřina Svitková and Maren Mjelde sealed the win with goals in the 87th and 93rd minute respectively, with Chelsea booking their spot in the final eight, a task they fell just short of last season. 

Meanwhile, Lydia Williams' Paris Saint-Germain also booked their spot in the final eight with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid to qualify second out of the group. 

The home side opened the scoring in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter through defender Élisa de Almeida. PSG doubled their advantage from the spot, with Kadidiatou Diani finding the back of the net on the hour mark. 


Madrid clawed back a goal through Claudia Zornoza but couldn't find the equaliser to keep their qualification hopes alive. Williams remained on the bench in the win. 

Chelsea and PSG will face one another in the final group stage game, with both sides already through but with PSG able to overtake the Blues in the group standings. 

Chelsea v PSG
Date: Friday, December 23
Kick-off: 7:00 am AEDT

Group C

Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord's Arsenal booked their spot in the next stage of the UWCL, despite going down 1-0 to Lyon due to an unfortunate own goal.

The Gunners are through to a record 15th quarter-final, with Catley and Foord playing the entire game for the home side at Emirates Stadium. 

Jonas Eidevall's side qualification was soured by the scenes of Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema needing to be stretched off the ground after an injury, less than a month after losing fellow forward Beth Mead to an ACL injury.  


Arsenal will now face winless Zürich in their final group stage game, with the Gunners knowing a win will see them clinch first place in the group. 

Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter's reigning UWCL champions, Lyon, will have their fate for the next stage determined in the final matchday.

One spot remains in the quarter-finals with Lyon and Juventus battling to advance to the final eight, with Lyon leading the Italian side by two points going into the final matchday. 

Lyon v Juventus 
Date: Thursday, December 22
Kick-off: 4:45 am AEDT

Zürich v Arsenal 
Date: Thursday, December 22
Kick-off: 4:45 am AEDT

Group D

Lastly, Teagan Micah's FC Rosengård hosted German-based side Bayern Munich, already knowing they would be unable to qualify for the next stage. 

A 4-0 win to Bayern saw them clinch their quarter-final spot, with goals to Tainara, Sydney Lohmann, Georgia Stanway and Julia Landenberger. Micah did not appear in the squad after sustaining an injury in their last UWCL game. 

Rosengård will finish their season away to FC Barcelona in the group stage. 

Barcelona v FC Rosengård
Date: Thursday, December 22
Kick-off: 7:00 am AEDT

Conti Cup

The last group stage games of the Conti Cup were scheduled this weekend, however, postponed games for both West Ham United and Manchester City will see them forced to wait to play their last game. 

Clare Wheeler's Everton was able to play their fixture, hosting Durham in their last Conti Cup game. 

Lily Crosthwaite scored the only goal of the game on Merseyside in the 15th minute, with both sides unable to progress to the next stage. 


Wheeler started for the Toffees and was substituted in the 75th minute. 

Kyah Simon's Spurs booked their spot in the Conti Cup quarter-finals after a narrow 1-0 win over Southampton. Nicola Karczewska’s 26th-minute goal sealed the win.