Chelsea drawn against Real Sociedad in Champions League qualifier
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Chelsea have been drawn against Real Sociedad in the Women's Champions League third qualifying round, needing to win over two legs to reach the competition's 18-team league phase. Chelsea dropped into qualifying after finishing third in the WSL last season, their lowest league finish since 2019, and go into the tie as favourites against the Spanish side, who themselves finished third in Spain behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. The financial stakes are considerable, with league-phase clubs guaranteed a minimum of €505,000 plus further sums for wins, draws and final standing, while the eventual champions stand to earn over €1m in knockout-phase prize money.
The first leg will be played at Chelsea on 26 August, with the return leg in San Sebastián on 2 September, just three days before Chelsea open their WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa. The wider qualifying draw was split into a "champions path" for domestic title-winners and a "league path" for runners-up and third-placed sides, which alongside Chelsea's tie includes Eintracht Frankfurt v Paris Saint-Germain, St Pölten v Juventus, Wolfsburg v Inter and, most notably, Ajax v Real Madrid. HB Køge, who eliminated Scottish champions Hearts earlier in qualifying, will face PSV Eindhoven.
- Chelsea drawn against Real Sociedad in Champions League qualifying round
- Two-legged tie: home 26 August, away in Spain 2 September
- League-phase qualification carries at least €505,000 in prize money
New here? Start with this
Chelsea are heading into a Champions League qualifier because they finished third in the Women's Super League last season, their weakest domestic finish since 2019, which meant missing automatic entry to the competition's main "league phase". To get there, they must beat Real Sociedad, who finished third in Spain's top flight, across two legs later this month.
The Women's Champions League now works on a two-path system: a "champions path" for teams that won their domestic league, and a "league path" for runners-up and third-placed clubs like Chelsea, who must win a qualifying tie to join 18 teams in the main phase. Reaching that stage brings a guaranteed minimum payment along with further prize money for wins, draws and league position, so there is a clear financial as well as sporting incentive.
Chelsea are one of English football's dominant women's clubs but have not had it all their own way domestically in recent seasons, making this qualifier a notable early test before their WSL campaign resumes.
More coverage
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “Chelsea face Real Sociedad in WCL third qualifying round with riches at stake”.