UWCL Preview: Group stage kicks off with Aussies going head-to-head

The UEFA Women's Champions League group stage kicks off on Wednesday morning, with plenty of Matildas going head-to-head for a chance to advance to the quarter-finals.

All games group stage games will be streamed for free within Australia on DAZN and shown live on their YouTube channel

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Group B

Ellie Carpenter's Lyon travel to Czechia for their first group stage game, with the French champions taking on the Czech Women's First League champions in Slavia Praha.

Lyon will be hoping to kick their group stage campaign off with a win, with their 5-1 defeat to Arsenal on matchday 1 in last season's edition fresh in their minds. The French side has been flying in the D1 this season, on a 7-game unbeaten streak, unbeaten in the league and currently sits at the top of the table.

Ellie CARPENTER of Lyon during the Women's Champions League match between Lyon and Chelsea on March 22, 2023 in Lyon, France.
Ellie Carpenter of Lyon during the Women's Champions League match between Lyon and Chelsea on March 22, 2023, in Lyon, France.

Carpenter is expected to start for Sonia Bompastor's side as they look to return to the UWCL final after missing out on last season's edition after the side was eliminated on penalties by Chelsea in the quarter-finals. 

Lyon has been drawn in a group alongside Slavia Praha, Larissa Crummer's SK Brann and St. Pölten.

Slavia Praha v Lyon
Date: Wednesday 15 November
Time: 7:00am AEDT
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Group C

Clare Hunt's Paris Saint-Germain will take on Ajax in their opening game of the group stage. PSG booked their spot in the group stage after defeating Manchester United 4-2 on aggregate in Round 2 of Qualifying, with Hunt making her UWCL debut during the games.

Clare Hunt of Paris Saint-Germain is tackled by Geyse of Manchester United during the UEFA Women's Champions League Qualifying Round 2 Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United at Parc des Princes on October 18, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Clare Hunt of Paris Saint-Germain is tackled by Geyse of Manchester United during the UEFA Women's Champions League Qualifying Round 2 Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United at Parc des Princes on October 18, 2023, in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

PSG was knocked out of last season's edition of the tournament at the quarter-finals stage, beaten 2-1 on aggregate by eventual finalists VFL Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, their Dutch opponents, Ajax, did not advance to the group stage last season after suffering a defeat to Arsenal in Round 2 of Qualifying.

The French team has been drawn into a group alongside Ajax, Bayern Munich and Roma. 

Ajax v PSG
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 7:00am AEDT
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Group D

Group D is filled with Aussies, with a representative in each team competing in the group. Aivi Luik's BK Häcken will take on the daunting task of facing Paris FC, with fellow Australian Sarah Hunter in the side. 

Paris FC defeated Arsenal and last season's UWCL finalists VFL Wolfsburg to advance to the knockout stages, and currently sit in second in the D1 in France. Meanwhile, Häcken missed out on the UWCL group stage last season after being defeated by PSG 4-1 on aggregate. 

Paris FC v BK Häcken
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 4:45am AEDT
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The other Group D game will see Hayley Raso's Real Madrid host Sam Kerr's Chelsea, with both sides facing one another in the group stage last season. Madrid just missed out on advancing through to the quarter-finals last season, finishing in third after suffering defeats to Chelsea and PSG. 

Hayley Raso (15) of Real Madrid seen during the UEFA Women™s Champions League qualification match between Vaalerenga and Real Madrid at Intility Arena in Oslo.
Hayley Raso of Real Madrid during the UEFA Women's Champions League qualification match between Vaalerenga and Real Madrid at Intility Arena in Oslo.

Real Madrid has recruited some firepower for this season's UWCL, adding the likes of Raso, Denmark's Signe Bruun and Colombia's Linda Caicdeo. 

Emma Hayes' Blues has also welcomed some new faces to her side in Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel, Ashley Lawrence and Sjoeke Nüsken, looking to go one better than their semi-final defeat to the eventual champions Barcelona last season.  

Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates scoring the team's second penalty in the shootout during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between Chelsea FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Stamford Bridge on March 30, 2023 in London, England . (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates scoring the team's second penalty in the shootout during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between Chelsea FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Stamford Bridge on March 30, 2023, in London, England . (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Real Madrid v Chelsea
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 7:00am AEDT
Watch Here