THE Women’s Champions League returns tonight with Manchester City back in the tournament and Barcelona looking to defend their title with a revamped squad.

Barcelona’s defence will include hosting Arsenal in a rematch of the 2025 final won by the London club.

The league phase, in its second year, begins this evening with 18 teams competing over six match-days. The top four advance directly to the quarter-finals and the clubs finishing between fifth and 12th compete in knockout phase play-offs in February.

Italy’s Inter Milan will make their debut in the league phase of the competition.

Barcelona’s changes

After lifting a fourth Champions League trophy last season, Barcelona will begin the defence of their title with a new-look team following the departures of players such as two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, Ona Battle and Salma Paralluelo.

Still in the squad for the Catalan club are Ewa Pajor, Caroline Graham Hansen and three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, the team’s main leader. Barcelona have also added players including Brazilian winger Kerolin.

The club will debut against Paris FC at home tomorrow. Paris reached the knockout-phase play-off last season.

Man City back in action

Manchester City missed out on the Champions League league phase last season but are back after their first year under coach Andree Jeglertz, who helped the team end Chelsea’s dominance of the Women’s Super League and claim their first league title in a decade.

City, who also won the FA Cup to complete a domestic double, make their debut at Bayern Munich tonight after reaching the quarter-finals two seasons ago, where they were eliminated by Chelsea.

“To qualify was massively important, it’s an expectation that we have at this football club. But every competition that we play in, we’re there to win,” team captain Alex Greenwood told Uefa.com.

“We know it’s going to be a challenge but it’s fantastic for the club. We’re going to give it absolutely everything, like we do in every other competition, take it game by game and see how far we can go,” she said.

Bayern were semi-finalists last season.

Two newcomers

Inter Milan and Austria Wien will make their league phase debut this season.

Inter, who advanced through a penalty shootout win over Wolfsburg, will host Europa Cup winner Hacken this evening.

Austria Wien, who eliminated SK Brann, will visit Chelsea tomorrow, while Swiss club Servette will host eight-time champions OL Lyonnes.

Danish club HB Koge Women, who last appeared in 2021-22, will play at 2024-25 champions Arsenal tonight.

The six rounds of the league phase start September 22 and are played through December 16. The final will be played in Poland’s national stadium in Warsaw in late May.