The 2025/26 Champions League quarterfinals have arrived, as WSL rivals Chelsea and Arsenal prepare to kick off an historic London derby in the round's first leg on Tuesday — with both UK clubs contending with shorthanded rosters after waning midseason availability.
Chelsea is without Australian standouts Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter as they return from their second-place run at the 2026 AFC Asian Cup, while fellow Matildas Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Kyra Cooney-Cross sit out for Arsenal.
The Blues' concerns go even deeper, however, as the recent departures of Guro Reiten and Catarina Macario combine with a long injury list: Aggie Beever-Jones remains questionable, while Millie Bright, Nathalie Björn, Mayra Ramírez, and Niamh Charles are all sidelined.
"I still think we have a lot of quality and coming into the game tomorrow, we will have some strengths to use," assured Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor on Monday.
The other Champions League quarterfinal matchups should showcase more star power, as Wolfsburg takes on OL Lyonnes, Barcelona opens its Clásico against Real Madrid, and Manchester United battles Bayern Munich.
"You know it's going to be competitive — nobody's going to give anything away for free," said Barcelona forward Caroline Graham Hansen.
How to watch the 2025/26 Champions League quarterfinals
The UWCL quarterfinals kick off their first legs on Tuesday, with Wolfsburg hosting OL Lyonnes at 1:45 PM ET before Chelsea visits Arsenal at 4 PM ET.
Then on Wednesday, Barcelona takes on Real Madrid at 1:45 PM ET, and Bayern visits Man United at 4 PM ET.
All 2025/26 Champions League matches will stream live on Paramount+.
