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Everything you need to know about Chelsea Women’s Champions League group

By Caden Charpentier

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23:Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (R) of Chelsea FC Women challengesOlga Carmona of Real Madrid CF during the UEFA Women's Champions League group A match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Kingsmeadow on November 23, 2022 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23:Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (R) of Chelsea FC Women challengesOlga Carmona of Real Madrid CF during the UEFA Women's Champions League group A match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Kingsmeadow on November 23, 2022 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 18: Paris FC celebrate their second goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Qualifying Round 2 Second Leg match between VfL Wolfsburg and Paris FC at AOK-Stadion on October 18, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images) /

3. Paris FC

League: Division 1 Féminine

Matchday #2: Thursday, November 23, 8:00 p.m. UK time at Stamford Bridge

Matchday #6: Tuesday, January 30, 5:45 p.m. UK time at Stade Robert Bobin

There are few stories in the world of women’s football that are as enticing as Paris FC’s Champions League run. Unlike the west London side, Sandrine Soubeyrand had to go through three opponents to reach this point. The club has not reached this stage of the Champions League since 2012/2013, but that year Paris found itself in the semifinals.

Arsenal? See ya. Wolfsburg? Peace out. For the last two rounds, Blues fans have seen themselves root for the French outfit. Now, that script must flip with the juggernaut slayer being drawn into Group D. Fans may look at the name and think of the men’s side which is in the second tier in France. That’s not the right mindset. What Soubeyrand’s team has done in the UWCL so far has been nothing short of magical. The two-time champions, and four-time runners-up Wolfsburg fell at the seams to Paris on its home turf. That’s the same German side that eliminated the Blues in three straight campaigns between 2015 and 2018.

The team is led by Nigeria’s No. 1 stop-stopper between the posts, Chiamaka Nnadozie, long-time midfielder Gaëtane Thiney, Louise Fleury, and the 2023 Women’s Under-19 EURO Player of the Tournament, Louna Ribadeira. The 19-year-old netted two goals against Germany in the semifinals despite her nation falling short in extra time.

In the qualifying rounds, Julie Dufour has been the difference-maker going forward. The 22-year-old has found the back of the net five times while assisting two in just four starts in Europe. She opened the scoring against Wolfsburg in the second leg with her left foot before Fleury put the German side to bed in the 90′. One of west London’s loanee’s Alsu Abdullina can compete against her parent club with there being no clause in the agreement that she couldn’t. There is no room to underestimate any of these teams, but especially this side. Paris shouldn’t be here. It has nothing to lose. That alone is frightening.

Next. Chelsea vs. Brighton: WSL preview, focus on building. dark

If Chelsea Women progress, it would be placed into the quarterfinal pot which will be drawn on February 6 while first leg does not commence until the end of March. 

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