UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final Preview -Wednesday | OneFootball

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

It’s El Clásico, excuse me, La Clásica, time in Spain yet again. The two have already played each other three times this season and have become very familiar with each other over the last few years.

Real Madrid

Madrid comes into the tie in great form, looking to further their seven-match winning streak. Despite their strong season, Real hasnt’ been perfect. There were two blips at the season’s start, which can be attributed as adjustment to new management, and a poor three-game spell in November. 

Under Pau Quesada, the shape has changed from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. This allows Linda Caicedo to come inside to pockets of space and Athenea Del Castillo to be closer to the touchline and link up with converted wingback Eva Navarro. The addition of Sara Däbritz to the midfield has added experience and a player capable of controlling space across the pitch. Caroline Wier continues to play to a world-class level, generating 19 goal contributions in all competitions.

In the Champions League group phase, Real had mixed fortunes, winning three, drawing two and losing one, only managing a single clean sheet. Nine points left them in seventh place, and a knockout games against Paris FC. Los Merengues learned their lesson and ran out 5-2 winners on aggregate after a nervy first leg in the French capital.

Barcelona

Barcelona has lost one game since their defeat to Arsenal in last year’s Champions League final. Form has continued to be excellent despite the amount of minutes academy graduates and younger signings have received.

The impact of three-time Balon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí’s injury was greatly reduced due to Clara Serrajordi and Sydney Schertenleib’s qualities in the middle of the park.

The Blaugrana progressed comfortably to the quarter-finals, going unbeaten, scoring the most (20) and conceding the least (3), along with Chelsea. The most surprising result of the group phase belongs to Barcelona, comfortably dispatching Bayern 7-1, making their intentions known to everyone else.

Barça too won their first piece of silverware, beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Supercopa Femenina. In addition, a 4-0 victory in Madrid sees this fixture head-to-head at twenty-three wins for Barcelona and one victory for Real Madrid.

Facts:The second leg will be played at Spotify Camp Nou. It will be the women’s side’s first appearance at the ground since March 2023, when they hosted AS Roma.The last time Barcelona and Madrid played in the Champions League was in March 2022. Barcelona won 5-2.

Manchester United vs Bayern Munich

Each team will be missing a player due to the ongoing Asia Cup:Manchester United: Hinata MiyazawaBayern Munich: Momoko Tanikawa

Manchester United

Manchester United are enjoying their best season yet. They are currently second in the WSL, reached the League Cup final, and secured a quarter-final berth in their first year of Champions League football.

The Red Devils have become more consistent and harder to beat. They’ve dropped two league games with four remaining, compared to four losses in the 24/25 season. Recruitment has contributed to the uptick as Fridolina Rolfö, Julia Zigiotte Olme and Jess Park, among others, have added quality and experience. The understanding between strike duo Elisabeth Terland and Melvine Malard is also a year older and improving.

But the road has not been smooth. United’s Champions League run was nearly over before it began when they travelled to Norway to play Brann. The Norwegians proved stubborn, and United lost 1-0. That deficit was overturned thanks to Elisabeth Terland’s hat-trick in Manchester on the reverse leg.

Marc Skinner’s side proved they deserve to be at Europe’s top table, winning four of their group stage six games, losing to OL and Wolfsburg. Twelve points landed United in sixth and two dates with Atletico Madrid, whom they brushed aside 5-0 on aggregate.

Bayern Munich

Bayern are unbeaten in league and cup action and don’t look like surrendering anytime soon. Their league lead is nearly unsurmountable, allowing them the luxury of Champions League.

But injuries to key midfielders Lena Oberdorf and Sarah Zadrazil, and the departure of goalscorer Lea Schüller to Manchester United in January, forced new coach Jose Barcala to experiment. An eyebrow raising draw to FC Carl Zeiss Jena and heavy loss to Barcelona shows that Barcala hadn’t fully imposed his ideas upon the squad. 

The use of right back and left back, Guilia Gwinn and Franziska Kett (naturally a winger), has made a major difference in how Bayern attack. Both naturally play high up, leading to 1v1 and crossing situations, as well as being useful for pressing the opponent. Klara Bühl has arguably been the best player in Europe this season, contributing eight goals and twenty assists. Her power and understanding of how to unbalance defenders has been impactful.

FC Bayern’s Champions League League Phase was fueled by Pernille Harder. The Danish superstar scored in all but two games, helping her side to qualify automatically for the knockout phase in fourth. Defensively, Munich actually conceded the third most goals, largely inflated by their 7-1 defeat to Barcelona. Only a single clean sheet was kept.

Facts:The first leg at Old Trafford will be the first time Manchester United and Bayern Munich have played an eleven-a-side match.The two previously met in a seven-a-side tournament. Bayern defeated United in the final 2-1.