United Women learn Champions League opponents
Manchester United Women have discovered our opponents for the UEFA Women’s Champions League second qualifying round.
The draw was held on Tuesday at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon and the Reds were one of 15 clubs involved in the ‘league path’.
Those 15 sides have been divided into four mini-tournaments – three groups of four teams, and one pool of three.
United are in Group 1, and will play against PSV Eindhoven. All matches are to be held in Stockholm, Sweden.
Should we progress beyond the Dutch side, in that one-off tie to be played on Wednesday 27 August, we will take on the winners of Hammarby and Metalist Kharkiv in the final three days later.
Victory in that game would seal a spot in the third and final qualifying round in September, which will be a two-legged tie against one of nine other remaining sides.
Defeat to either PSV or in the final would not automatically spell the end of our European hopes, as the runners-up and third-placed side – decided by a play-off between the losing semi-finalists – in each mini-tournament progresses to the new Women’s Europa Cup.
The Reds are bidding to qualify for the main stage of the Champions League for the first time, having lost to Paris Saint-Germain in a play-off two years ago.
This season's competition has been expanded to 18 teams, with UEFA adopting the league phase used in the men's tournament.