NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Titleholder Lyon will play Arsenal, Juventus and Zurich in its Women’s Champions League group after the 16-team draw was made Monday.
Lyon beat Juventus, the Italian champion, in the quarterfinals last season on its way to an eighth European title in 12 years.
English champion Chelsea was grouped with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Vllaznia, which is the first Albanian men’s or women’s club to reach the round of 16 in any European competition for more than 30 years.
Barcelona, the 2021 champion and runner-up last season, will play Bayern Munich, Rosengård and Benfica.
Two-time champion Wolfsburg was drawn with Slavia Prague, St. Pölten and Roma.
Games begin Oct. 19 in a schedule that seeks to avoid fixture clashes with the men’s World Cup.
The last three rounds of games in December all avoid going head-to-head with the later knockout stages in Qatar.
The sixth and final Champions League round on Dec. 21 and 22 will be among the first games played in Europe after the World Cup final on Dec. 18 in Qatar.
All Women’s Champions League games are broadcast live on YouTube as part of UEFA’s rights deal with broadcaster DAZN.
The final is on June 3 or 4 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
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Draw List:
Group A: Chelsea (England), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Real Madrid (Spain), Vllaznia (Albania).
Group B: Wolfsburg (Germany), Slavia Prague (Czechia), St. Pölten (Austria), Roma (Italy).
Group C: Lyon (France), Arsenal (England), Juventus (Italy), Zurich (Switzerland).
Group D: Barcelona (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany), Rosengård (Sweden), Benfica (Portugal).
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