In a highly anticipated clash, Arsenal will host Chelsea on March 24, 2026, at the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 (GMT), and the match is expected to draw significant attention as both teams vie for a place in the semi-finals.
Arsenal enters this match with a strong record, having scored 20 goals in their last seven matches while conceding only one. Their recent form includes five wins and one draw, indicating a formidable attacking prowess. The Gunners are also the only British club to have ever won the Champions League, first achieving this feat in 2007 and adding a second European title last season by defeating Barcelona.
On the other hand, Chelsea arrives at this encounter with a remarkable history of success in the Women’s Super League (WSL), having won six titles in a row. Currently, they sit just two points behind Arsenal in the WSL standings, making this match not only crucial for the Champions League but also for their domestic aspirations.
Both teams have formidable lineups, with Arsenal predicted to field players such as van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, and Russo, who is the leading goalscorer in the 2025/26 Champions League with seven goals. Chelsea will counter with their own star players, including Sam Kerr, who has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, and a strong defensive line featuring Bronze and Buchanan.
Key moments
As the match approaches, both coaches have expressed their ambitions. Arsenal’s Renée Slegers noted, “It’s of course been a very short turnaround from the West Ham game, so we’ve had two full days to prepare,” highlighting the tight schedule. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor stated, “We are playing a big game, a Champions League quarter-final. We will be really ambitious and maintain our really high goals,” emphasizing the importance of this fixture for her team.
The match will be officiated by Romanian referee Ionela Peşu and will be broadcast live on BBC Two and Disney+ in the UK, ensuring that fans will not miss this crucial encounter. With both teams in excellent form and a rich history of competition, the stage is set for an exciting showdown at the Emirates Stadium.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact attendance expected for the match, but the significance of this quarter-final clash is undeniable. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the teams will perform under pressure, especially given their recent performances against each other, which include two wins for Arsenal, two losses, and one draw in their last five meetings.
