UWCL shock watch: Could Chelsea, PSG or Wolfsburg fail to make the league phase?Chelsea must face Real Sociedad in the final Women’s Champions League qualifying round. Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesYash ThakurMultiple AuthorsAug 25, 2026, 03:15 AM ET
tamil yogi
After a meagre third-place finish in the Women’s Super League (WSL) last season, Chelsea have not been given their typical automatic place in the league phase of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL). Instead, they must navigate the third qualifying round, in which they have been drawn to face Spanish side Real Sociedad over two legs.
Chelsea, though, are not the only heavyweights needing to avoid a shock to book their place. Fellow quarterfinalists from last season, Wolfsburg, must navigate a qualifying tie against Inter Milan, and former perennial semifinalists Paris Saint-Germain face Eintracht Frankfurt.
Lose those ties, and the teams will be dumped out before the Champions League really begins. But could it happen?
Real Sociedad vs. Chelsea
Under manager Arturo Ruiz, Real Sociedad played some dazzling football last season. They comfortably finished third in Liga F behind champions Barcelona and runners-up Real Madrid, but 12 points clear of fourth-place CD Tenerife.
Ruiz likes his teams to dictate games, with the midfielders dominating possession, while pressing high when out of possession. Last season, that meant Paula Fernández and Andreia Jacinto were crucial at the base of Real Sociedad’s midfield, although the latter joined Real Madrid this summer.
Editor’s Picks
One question each big WSL club should ask themselves
Ranking the 25 best players in the NWSL right now: Rodman? Lavelle? Who’s No. 1?
Are Tottenham ready to compete with WSL elite after a superb transfer window?
Jacinto’s departure will come as a huge loss for Real Sociedad, but it is the lack of goal-scoring options that limits their chances of an upset against Chelsea the most. Bayern Munich loanee Edna Imade ended as the club’s top scorer last season (11 goals), despite only playing for the first half of the campaign and returning to her parent club in January.
Real Sociedad also look thin in defense. The emergence of 17-year-old left back Aiara Agirrezabala, who notched six goals and four assists last season, was a positive step for Ruiz, but the team still lack quality and depth.
In short, getting two results against Chelsea over the two legs looks to be a tall order for the Spanish side.
Though perhaps what matters most is what kind of Chelsea side shows up. They looked bereft of attacking ideas at times last season, meaning teams were able to keep them at bay. This summer’s new arrivals have been geared towards adding more dynamism to their attack, such as Giulia Dragoni and Melvine Malard, after the departure of legendary striker Sam Kerr.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Over a decade ago, Eintracht Frankfurt beat Paris Saint-Germain in the 2015 UWCL final. Now, the two sides meet under entirely different circumstances.
The UEFA Europa Cup — a second-tier women’s competition in Europe — was played for the first time last season, with Frankfurt making the semifinals. However, with 11 players departing this summer, this is a new-look Frankfurt side that will be hoping to make it past the qualifying rounds for just the second time in 10 years — they fell at this same hurdle last season to Real Madrid.
STREAM FUTBOL W ON ESPN+Ali Krieger, Cristina Alexander and Jeff Kassouf debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights from women’s soccer in the Americas. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
Those summer departures could hurt them. Three of Frankfurt’s top six goal contributors have left — including top scorer Nicole Anyomi — although Laura Freigang remains to lead the line. Midfield arrivals Larissa Mühlhaus and Hanna Bennison could help, but the huge turnover makes Frankfurt something of an unknown entity.
For their part, PSG are no strangers to early European exits, having been knocked out by Juventus in the third qualifying round two years ago. Then again, last season’s performance in the league phase offered no greater confidence: PSG were one of four sides who failed to win a single game as they struggled to beat Benfica or minnows OH Leuven, and they scored the joint-fewest number of goals (4).
Not long ago, PSG used to be an easy bet to make the semifinals — they reached four in five years between 2019 and 2024 — but they are not the team they once were. Last season they finished third in France’s Première Ligue for the first time since 2017. And, unable to attract or retain top talents, PSG are no longer home to some of the world’s best players. So it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Frankfurt edge them.
Wolfsburg vs. Inter Milan
Wolfsburg made the UWCL final just three years ago and were the top side in Germany (with seven titles in 13 years) before Bayern Munich took that mantle to win the last three titles back-to-back.
The club have had to replace the spine of the team in recent seasons — including legend Alexandra Popp, who ended her 14-year stint to join Dortmund this summer. Since Popp’s arrival, Wolfsburg have failed to reach the UWCL knockout rounds only once, in 2023-24, when they suffered defeat to Paris FC in qualifying. Cecilie Fløe’s strong aerial game will replace some of what Popp brought and should pair well with dynamic wingers Cora Zicai and Kessya Bussy, but Wolfsburg are no longer the force they once were.
Inter could cause them problems as they have a new head coach, David Sassarini, who spent last season at Napoli and coached Fløe before her move to Germany. It was Sassarini’s first job in women’s football in a 30-year coaching career, and he played a 4-4-2 formation aimed at hitting long, vertical balls to a tall, target striker. That approach often turned games into a bit of a basketball match in which neither team really had control, so anything can happen.
Inter have seen 13 player exits this summer and they lost their most reliable goal-scoring option, Tessa Wullaert, who led Serie A in both goals and assists last season. However, Sassarini will make Inter more direct and that could ensure a dramatic finish if they can stay in the tie after the first leg.
