It seems as though Louisville FC really is looking to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. 

Less than a week after it was reported that Lyon and Barcelona are to play in Portland this summer, the final two squads for The Women’s Cup in Louisville were announced today in a press conference. 

Global soccer powerhouses FC Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germain are set to play Louisville FC and the Chicago Red Stars in the inaugural event at Lynn Family Stadium on Aug. 18 and 21. 

“We are very excited to bring two of the world’s best clubs to town for The Women’s Cup,” said TWC director J.P. Reynal in the press conference. “PSG and Bayern will give local favorites Racing Louisville and the Chicago Red Stars a chance to compete on an international stage.”

FC Bayern currently sit atop the table in Germany’s highest division, the Bundesliga. Looking for its first league title since the 2015-2016 season, the club will face Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions league semi finals.

“FC Bayern is the world’s biggest sports family with an incredible following in North America. It is important to connect with our fans on their home soil whenever possible,” said Rudolf Vidal, FC Bayern Munich President of the Americas. “We look forward to bringing our women’s team stars to Louisville and participating in the very first Women’s Cup.”

Meanwhile Paris-Saint Germain currently sit atop Division 1 Féminine in pursuit of its first league crown. They’ll meet Lyon in the Champions League quarterfinal match on April 18th.

The Red Stars are also a force to be reckoned with, finishing runner up to the Houston Dash in last year’s Challenge Cup. 

The announcement was highlighted by Victoire Cogevina, UN Ambassador for Women’s Soccer, who endorsed The Women’s Cup on behalf of the United Nations.

 

MATCH INFO:

Juventus vs Olympique Lyonnais: UEFA Champions League – Leg 1 – Round of 32

Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kickoff: December 9th, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. EST

The UEFA Champions League is back, with the knockout round beginning this week as 32 of the best teams in Europe gear up to compete for the most prestigious prize in club football.

With the first legs of the Round of 32 matches set to be played on December 9th and 10th, there are several highly anticipated matchups which promise to deliver the usual Champions League fireworks. But no matchup looks to be bigger than that between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais, the first leg of which will take place in Turin, Italy.

Juve currently tops the Serie A table and has won the league title the last three seasons. That’s a pretty good resume, until you compare it to Lyon’s. The 14-time defending French league champs have won the Champions League title the past five years and seven times overall. They begin their latest title defense looking to cement their status as one of the dynasties the sport has ever seen.

Olympique Lyonnais is considered the best and most successful women’s football club in the world. In the past decade, Lyon has won over 25 trophies, and given the money, resources, and development that the club has put into their current squad and coaching staff, it doesn’t look like their winning ways are stopping anytime soon.

Last year, Juventus was knocked out in the Round of 32 by Barcelona, who made it all the way to the semi-finals. A disappointing result, but for a club that was only founded in 2017, Juventus has made great strides both domestically and in Europe.

When the Champions League comes along, teams dread being drawn against Lyon. For the past five years, it has meant a quick ticket out of the competition. Lyon’s history, experience, and strength on the pitch makes them almost impossible to beat.

If Juventus wants to advance to the Round of 16, the team will likely need to mimic what Paris Saint-Germain did against Lyon in late November of this year. PSG were able to shock Lyon in a Division 1 Féminine match, beating them 1-0.

Lyon’s defeat was more than just a loss to a rival; it was their first league defeat in four years. Before the match, Lyon sat atop the Division 1 Féminine standings, with Paris one point behind them. After the loss, Lyon moved to second, and have stayed behind PSG since.

Juventus not only has a gameplan to mimic, but they can take solace in the fact that Lyon has been playing a full-strength XI every week in hopes of catching up with Paris Saint-Germain. In contrast, Juventus, with nine wins in nine matches played, has been able to rest key players in the build-up to this match.

Fans of both teams will be hoping that they have enough to beat the other, of course, but neutrals will be hoping for a classic matchup that showcases all of the usual drama we’ve come to associate with the UEFA Champions League. Whatever happens during this tie, one of Europe’s best teams will be crashing out in the Round of 32.

Other exciting matchups in this round include Ajax vs Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven vs Barcelona. FAWSL teams Chelsea and Manchester City will likewise take on SL Benfica and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC respectively, while last season’s runner ups, VfL Wolfsburg, will take on ŽFK Spartak Subotica.