Ajax. Barcelona. Benfica. Brann. Chelsea. Häcken. Olympique Lyonnais. Paris Saint Germain. Europe’s elite have entered the quarterfinals.
It is often said, or more commonly thought “Good things come to those who wait.” Chronologically, once a year isn’t a lifetime long, but the tension, trials, tribulations, thrills, tie-breakers, teamwork, and tears are all apart of the annual UEFA Women’s Champions League tournament. In 2023, it should certainly not come as a surprise that FC Barcelona came back in true Spanish style against Germany’s Wolfsburg to stand upon the stage victorious. Overall, during the little 23 year life span of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Olympique Lyonnais (commonly referred to as OL) have kept their trophy case filled by crashing the competition with 8 UWCL trophies. In Spain, Barcelona are the only club to have won this cherished continental contention, similarly Arsenal being the only English club to top Europe.
The final eight will unite until undoing each other one by one. In the mix are seven countries including; Norway – SK Brann, Sweden – BK Häcken, England – Chelsea FC, Netherlands – AFC Ajax, Portugal – Benfica, Spain – FC Barcelona, France – PSG & Olympique Lyonnais. Currently, Barcelona cannot draw any teams that placed first in their respective groups counting Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. Barcelona’s form in the UWCL has been five flushing landslides in a row, stopping at nothing to claim third times a charm. Once the preliminary quarter-final rounds are complete, seemingly fellow undefeated football clubs such as Chelsea will build a wall around boastful Barcelona. “Good things come to those who wait”, but in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, good things come to those who prepare and produce hard work.
