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
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