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UWCL Third Qualifying Round Draw Sets Chelsea v Real Sociedad and Eight Other Deciders

The draw held Tuesday in Nyon pairs 18 teams into nine two-legged ties that will decide who reaches the 18-team Champions League league phase.

Overview

  • UEFA conducted the third qualifying round draw on Tuesday in Nyon, producing nine two-legged matchups that split into a Champions Path and a League Path.
  • High-profile League Path ties include Chelsea v Real Sociedad, Ajax v Real Madrid and Wolfsburg v Inter, with other pairings such as Eintracht Frankfurt v Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus v St Polten.
  • The first legs are scheduled for 26 August and the return legs for 2 September, with kick-off times to be announced by UEFA and clubs now finalising preparations.
  • Winners of these ties will join nine clubs already directly qualified for the UWCL league phase while the nine losers will move into the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Europa Cup.
  • The draw used seeded pots and a rule preventing teams from the same country facing each other, a format that shapes who must navigate qualifying and affects clubs' sporting plans and commercial calendars.