Overview

• UEFA has replaced the group stage with an 18-team league phase in which each club plays six games, with the top four advancing to the quarter-finals and places 5–12 entering play-offs.
• Matchday 1 begins Oct. 7–8 with Arsenal vs. eight-time winners Lyon, plus fixtures such as Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich, Twente vs. Chelsea, Manchester United vs. Vålerenga, and Wolfsburg vs. PSG.
• Defending champions Arsenal enter the opener on a winless domestic run and remain without injured captain Leah Williamson, while Lyon arrive in strong form under new coach Jonatan Giraldez.
• Manchester United and Belgian champions OH Leuven make their main-draw debuts after progressing through qualifying, reflecting broadened access under the revamped format.
• The new second-tier Women’s Europa Cup starts alongside the UWCL and grants its winner a spot in next season’s Champions League qualifying, with this season’s UWCL final set for Oslo in May.