Manchester United will face Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in the second round of UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying.

The second round follows a mini-tournament format, with semi-finals as well as the final and third-place play-off scheduled for the end of August. United, who secured third place in last season’s Women’s Super League, are placed in Group 1. They will meet PSV in the semi-final, with the winner advancing to play either Hammarby of Sweden or Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv in the final.

Victory in the second round would send United into the third and final stage of qualification in September, where teams compete in a two-legged play-off for a spot in the tournament’s league phase.

Elsewhere, Glasgow City will also compete in the second round, opening against Austria’s FK Austria Wien. The winner will move on to face Bulgarian champions FC Minsk.

In the first qualifying round, Welsh club Cardiff City take on Athlone Town from the Republic of Ireland. The winner of that tie will play Croatian champions ZNK Agram in the group final for a place in round two.

Northern Ireland’s Cliftonville Ladies are also in first-round action, where they’ll meet KFF Mitrovica, the reigning champions of Kosovo.

New format, new look

Earlier on Tuesday, UEFA revealed a new brand identity for the competition as the Women’s Champions League prepares to introduce a 18-team league phase format. Last season, Arsenal won the competition, defeating FC Barcelona in the final.

UEFA said the visual identity that reflects the competition’s new format, and will hope that it develops the power and recognition of the men’s Champions League branding.

UEFA managing director of Women’s Football Nadine Kessler said: “We’re entering a landmark season in European women’s football, marked by the evolution of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the launch of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. As the UEFA Women’s Champions League celebrates its 25th anniversary, it stands as a symbol of enduring excellence and the ultimate prize in club football. A refreshed brand identity accompanies this new chapter – honouring the competition’s rich legacy while elevating its profile for a bold new era.”

As for the design itself, UEFA said:“At the heart of the rebrand is Aura,” said UEFA. “A new and vibrant visual concept inspired by the trophy’s distinctive handles that rise to the top. This captures the energy, ambition and brilliance of the clubs competing in the new league phase. The iconic star ring has been reimagined with a glass-like aesthetic, allowing colours to flow and shift across its surface, symbolising both unity and individuality among participating teams.”

Insideworldfootball.com

Rangers have been drawn against Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Scottish Premiership runners-up will be at home for the first leg on 22/23 July, with the return in Greece the following week.

Meanwhile, the winners of the first-round tie between Northern Ireland champions Linfield and Republic of Ireland counterparts Shelbourne will face Qarabag of Azerbaijan.

Should Welsh champions The New Saints win their tie against Shkendija of North Maceonia, they will face either FCSB of Romania or Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra.

Panathinaikos’ visit will mark Russell Martin’s first competitive game as Rangers head coach and the former Southampton boss has been handed the toughest of their possible draws despite the Ibrox side having been seeded.

All three potential opponents were, like Rangers, runners-up in their domestic leagues, but while the Greek side are 111th in the European club rankings, 86 places behind Rangers, Swiss side Servette are 139th (one behind Heart of Midlothian) and Norwegians Brann 189th.

Panathinaikos have never lost to Scottish opponents over 90 minutes in four meetings with Rangers, two with Motherwell and one with Aberdeen, winning four of their seven games.

However, it was Rangers who progressed when they last met the Ibrox side.

Having beaten Aberdeen 3-0 at home in the 2007-08 Uefa Cup group stage, the Greeks exiting on away goals after a 0-0 stalemate in Glasgow was followed by a 1-1 draw in Athens in the round of 32.

They had beaten Rangers 3-1 at Ibrox, and drew 1-1 at home, in the Champions League group stage in 2003, while they eased aside Motherwell 5-0 on aggregate in their latest meeting with a Scottish side in 2012 – in the Champions League third qualifying round.

Panathinaikos have not reached the Champions League proper since 2010-11 and last season started in Europa League qualifying, beating Botev Plovdiv but losing to Ajax before qualifying for the Conference League by defeating Lens.

They lost 4-1 at home to eventual winners Chelsea and beat The New Saints 2-0 in Wales in the new league stage, finishing 13th, before beating Vikingur Reykjavik in the knockout phase then losing to Fiorentina in the last 16.

More to follow.

Bbc.com

Paris St Germain striker Ousmane Dembele was named Champions League Player of the Season by Uefa on Sunday after his turnaround campaign ended with him playing a major role in his side winning the competition for the first time.

Dembele’s teenage teammate Desire Doue was named Champions League young player of the season by European football’s governing body.

Dembele struggled early in the campaign, dropped by coach Luis Enrique for a league phase game with Arsenal for disciplinary reasons, but the 28-year-old went on to score eight Champions League goals after his switch to a more central role.

While Dembele failed to find the net in PSG’s 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in Saturday’s final in Munich, he was singled out by the manager for his performance.

“I would give the Ballon d’Or to Mr. Ousmane Dembele,” Luis Enrique said. “The way he defended tonight, just that alone could be worth the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you lead a team. Goals, trophies, leadership, defence, his pressing.”

The 19-year-old Doue wrapped up his extremely impressive campaign by creating the opening goal in the final for Achraf Hakimi before scoring twice himself.

PSG had seven players named in the competition’s team of the season while humbled finalists Inter had just one included.

Team of the season
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Desire Doue (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona)

Timeslive.co.za