Westfield Matildas set for UEFA Women's Champions League title battle
It is the most prestigious club competition in women’s football and five Westfield Matildas are in line to make their debuts in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Finals. Here is all you need to know.
As for most of the football world in 2020, COVID has played havoc with the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2019/20 season.
However, despite the lengthy months’ long layoff, the most coveted trophy in women’s club football will be lifted by the end of this month.
To ensure the 2020 champions are crowned, UEFA has designed a tournament where eight of Europe’s best teams will go head to head in Spain over nine days.
Which Westfield Matildas will be fighting for the title?
Five Westfield Matildas could potentially feature in the quarter final action this weekend.
Atlético Madrid’s Alex Chidiac has been named in the squad for the all-Spanish quarter final clash against Barcelona.
The two sides have been battling it out in the Primera División for a number of years with last year’s UWCL finalists Barca taking the upper hand of late.
Arsenal trio Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Lydia Williams are set to travel to Spain as their side searches for a second continental championship.
They will take on the other French giants in Paris Saint-Germain, with Catley and Williams looking for their first appearances in the Gunner’s kit.
Meanwhile, fresh off debut minutes for Lyon, Ellie Carpenter will be hoping to make her maiden appearance in the Champions League for Olympique Lyon. The defending champions, Lyon are chasing a seventh title, and their fifth in a row.
Westfield Matildas striker Sharon Black was the last Australian woman to come close to trophy when she helped Fortuna Hjørring to the finals back in 2003.
If any of the Westfield Matildas quartet were to claim the title, they would become the first Australian women to win UEFA Women’s Champions League.
How does the tournament work?
Eight teams still have a chance of lifting the UWCL trophy; Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Glasgow City, Olympique Lyonnais, PSG and Wolfsburg.
While the knockout phase of the UWCL usually involves a home and away tie, this time around it will be straight knockout football. The prize for the winners is progression and the defeated head home.
The games will be played in San Sebastián’s Anoeta stadium and the San Mamés in Bilbao starting on Saturday morning (Australian time) with the final scheduled for Sunday, 31 August.
How can you watch from Australia?
It will be an early morning, but Aussies will be able to watch Arsenal v PSG LIVE on Sunday morning on Kayo Sports.
UEFA TV will also show the other quarter finals and have highlights of all matches available post-match.
Westfield Matildas UEFA Women’s Champions League Matches
Atlético Madrid v Barcelona
Saturday, 22 August 2020
San Mamés Barria, Bilbao
Kick off: 2.00am (AEST)
Olympique Lyonnais v Bayern Munich
Sunday, 23 August 2020
San Mamés Barria, Bilbao
Kick off: 4.00am (AEST)
Arsenal WFC v Paris Saint-Germain
Sunday, 23 August 2020
Reale Arena, Donostia-San Sebastián
Kick off: 4.00am (AEST)
LIVE on Kayo Sports