Women's Champions League draw: Holders Lyon face Arsenal in tough group

Paris, Oct 3, 2022 (AFP) - Holders Lyon were given a tough draw in the women's Champions League on Monday in a group which includes Arsenal and Juventus.

Lyon beat 2021 champions Barcelona 3-1 in May and are in Group C, which includes the Gunners, powered by star Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, as well as Juve and Swiss side Zurich.

Barca benefited from a more lenient draw in Group D alongside Germans Bayern Munich, Rosengard of Sweden, and Portuguese club Benfica.

English giants Chelsea, with a star lineup including Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr, headline Group A, which also includes Paris Saint-Germain, semi-finalists in the last three editions, and Real Madrid.

Outsiders in the group are Vllaznia Shkoder, the first Albanian women's football club to climb into the top 16.

In Group B, Wolfsburg are favourites ahead of the Czechs Slavia Prague, Austrians St. Poelten, and Italy's Roma, novices in elite European competition.

Group-stage matches take place between Oct. 19 and Dec. 22, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Women's Champions League draw

Group A: Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Vllaznia Shkoder

Group B: Wolfsburg, Slavia Prague, St. Poelten, Roma

Group C: Lyon, Arsenal, Juventus, Zurich

Group D: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Rosengard, Benfica