Barcelona Defends Women's Champions League Title Against Paris FC

Barcelona began its defense of the Women's Champions League title on Wednesday, facing Paris FC at home in the second matchday of the tournament's league phase format. The Catalan club, which won its fourth European crown last season, enters the competition with a significantly reshaped squad following the departures of captain Alexia Putellas (a two-time Ballon d'Or winner who joined London City Lionesses), defender Mapi León, fullback Ona Batlle (who moved to Arsenal), and forward Salma Paralluelo (who signed with Lyon).

Barcelona retains several key players including Ewa Pajor, who was the league's top scorer last season, Caroline Graham Hansen, and three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who is recovering from a broken leg. The club has also recruited Brazilian winger Kerolin, formerly of Manchester City. Coach Pere Romeu signed a new contract and has emphasized the club's philosophy of player development and sense of belonging as compensation for not matching the wages offered by rival European clubs.

The Women's Champions League league phase, now in its second year, features 18 teams competing over six matchdays. The top four finishers advance directly to the quarterfinals, while clubs finishing fifth through twelfth compete in knockout phase playoffs in February. The final will be held in Warsaw in late May. Manchester City, which won its first Women's Super League title in a decade and the FA Cup, returned to the competition after missing the league phase last season and opened with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Inter Milan and Austria Wien made their league phase debuts this season, with Inter defeating Häcken 1-0 on Tuesday and Austria Wien debuting against Chelsea on Wednesday.