UWCL Preview: Aussies face off for a spot in the group stage

The UEFA Women's Champions League round 2 begins tomorrow morning for our Matildas Abroad, with a spot in the UWCL group stage on the line when Aussies go head-to-head. 

Read our preview of the upcoming action! Five teams featuring our Matildas Abroad will be aiming to clinch their spot in the group stage, with 12 places still up for grabs. 

MAT V SWE Thin Banner

Arsenal v AFC Ajax

Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley's Arsenal will be aiming to go one better than their quarter-finals exit last year when they begin their UWCL campaign at home, hosting Dutch side AFC Ajax.


Both sides finished second in their respective leagues, with Ajax booking their place in round 2 of qualifying by beating Kristianstads DFF and Eintracht Frankfurt in round 1 while Arsenal join the competition in this round. 

This year's round 2 qualifiers consist of two legs, home and away. With the Gunners welcoming Ajax for the first leg and then travelling to the Netherlands to seal a spot in the group stage. 

This game will kick off Wednesday morning at 4:30 am AEST. 

SK Brann Kvinner v FC Rosengård

Next up, Tameka Yallop's SK Brann Kvinner will host Teagan Micah's FC Rosengård for a spot in the group stage, with both sides never having qualified for the UWCL group stage.

Brann will make their much-anticipated debut to European football, with the Norwegian side having never qualified for the UWCL. Meanwhile, Micah's Rosengård bowed out of the competition in this stage last season, going down 6-3 on aggregate to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Round 2 of qualifying.


The Swedish Champions come into the game off a thrilling 6-2 win over the weekend in their domestic league, while Brann comes into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw. 

This game will kick off Thursday morning at 2:00 am AEST. 

Paris Saint-Germain F.C. v BK Häcken

Lastly, Lydia Williams' Paris Saint-Germain will host Aivi Luik's BK Häcken for a place in the group stage. 

PSG comes into the encounter with the better record in the UWCL, with the French side finishing runners-up in the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons, and reaching the semi-finals for the last three seasons.


The French side was knocked out of the competition last year by Lyon beating them 5-3 on aggregate, who went on to claim their 8th title. 

Meanwhile, Häcken finished last season's group stage with only one win, which was not enough to see them through to the quarter-finals. 

This game will kick off Thursday morning at 4:30 am AEST.