Mariona and Ona’s Arsenal begin Women’s Champions League at HB Køge

The 2026-27 Women’s Champions League gets underway today with the first five matches of matchday one, moving to a league-phase format. As Mundo Deportivo explains, the competition has 18 teams playing six games against different opponents: three at home and three away.

Among the highlights, Arsenal with Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle start their campaign against HB Køge Women at 21:00 (Disney+). The English side comes into the competition fresh off winning the 2025 title by beating Barça in the final, and this first match sets the tone for defending their place among Europe’s elite.

League phase, first test

Attention also turns to the Allianz Arena, where Bayern Munich host Manchester City (18:45, Disney+). The English club returns to the top European competition after a season away, while the Germans are coming off a run to the semifinals last season, when they were knocked out by eventual winners FC Barcelona.

The article also points to Manchester City’s attacking threat through Khadija Shaw, who scored 21 goals in 22 league matches last season.

The opening slate also features teams stepping up to this level for the first time. Inter Milan, after the surprise win over Wolfsburg in the qualifiers, debut at home against Häcken (18:45, Disney+). And at 21:00, Juventus with Alba Redondo, Julia Bartel and Amair Sarriegi —fresh off winning the Coppa Italia Serie A— face Benfica in a marquee matchup.

(Quotes included in the report: Claudia Pina says, “This team’s last job is to put pressure on itself,” per Mundo Deportivo.)