Chelsea Face Real Sociedad in Women's Champions League Qualifiers

Chelsea, the reigning Women's Super League (WSL) runners-up, will face Real Sociedad in the third round of qualifying for the Women's Champions League. This marks the first time in six years that the Blues have had to enter a qualifying round for the competition.

Chelsea's Unfamiliar Qualifying Round

Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign is set to begin in unfamiliar territory. The team, which has dominated the WSL in recent years, will face Real Sociedad in the third round of qualifying. This marks the first time in six years that Chelsea have had to enter a qualifying round for the competition.

Real Sociedad's Qualification

Real Sociedad finished third in Liga F last season, earning a qualification spot. This is only their second qualification in recent history, with their previous appearance in the qualifying round coming in the 2022-23 season. They were unable to progress beyond the second round, losing both games.

The Qualifying Round Format

The two-legged qualifiers will be played on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. The winners of each tie will earn a place in the competition proper. Chelsea and Real Sociedad will face each other in a two-legged tie, with the first leg taking place on Aug. 26 and the second leg on Sept. 2.

Chelsea's Recent Form

Chelsea finished third in the WSL last season, behind Manchester City and Arsenal. This marked the first time in six years that the Blues did not win the domestic competition. They will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing season and make a strong start to their Women's Champions League campaign.

Real Sociedad's Recent Form

Real Sociedad finished third in Liga F last season, earning a qualification spot. They will be looking to make the most of their second qualification in recent history and progress beyond the qualifying round.

The Competition Proper

Alongside WSL winners Manchester City and second-place Arsenal, holders Barcelona have already qualified for the competition. They beat OL Lyonnes 4-0 in the final in Oslo in May. Both Lyonnes and D1 Arkema runners-up Paris FC qualified automatically. Bayern Munich, Roma, Benfica, and BK Hacken have also already qualified for the competition as winners of their respective leagues.

Conclusion

Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign is set to begin in unfamiliar territory. The team will face Real Sociedad in the third round of qualifying, a tie that will be played over two legs. The winners of each tie will earn a place in the competition proper, with the losers being eliminated from the competition. Chelsea and Real Sociedad will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign and progress beyond the qualifying round.