Three teams argue about two Champions League places among women: Wolfsburg and Frankfurt are fighting for direct ticket, Leverkusen hopes for a surprise.
When the Women’s Champions League final takes place in Lisbon on May 24th, the German teams will only find space in the grandstand. Because neither VfL Wolfsburg – 2023 nor in the final – nor Bavaria Munich got beyond the quarter -finals. Eintracht Frankfurt even failed at the first hurdle in the qualification round. Instead, the FC Arsenal as well as Barcelona To the prestigious title in women’s football.
The fight for second place
In the next season, however, all three want to be there again. At least the Bavarians can already plan the Champions League as a German champion, while Wolfsburg, Eintracht and the surprise team of the season, Bayer Leverkusen, have a three -way battle for the other two qualifications. The second place in the table is particularly popular because it leads directly into the newly created league. The third, on the other hand, must take the way through the qualification round beforehand.
With 45 points, Wolfsburg currently has the best chance of participating in the direct Champions League. With a win with relegated Turbine Potsdam, VfL could expand the minimal distance from one point to Eintracht Frankfurt (44) at the weekend, in order to then go to the last game of the season against competitor Leverkusen. That would also fit Stephan Lerch in the stuff, who will take over as Wolfsburg’s coach from the coming season and already announced that he wanted to go hunting in all three competitions.
Frankfurt on Champions League course
Eintracht is also on Champions League course, but whether it makes it directly into the league or has to go through the unpleasant way of qualification will only be decided in the next two match days. Against Hoffenheim, a victory is most likely to be used to keep the chance of directing the Champions League. But the TSG is not a pleasant opponent.
In the first half of the season, the autumn champions won only thanks to a penalty by Sara Doorsoun. And Wolfsburg also had Hoffenheim on the edge of a defeat on the last match day. On the last day of the match, RB Leipzig is waiting for the team around top striker Laura Freikang, who also delivers a duel around the goal scorer cannon with Wolfburg’s Lineth Beerensteyn.
The underdog from Leverkusen
To shorten the distance from the big four – Bavaria, Wolfsburg, Frankfurt and Hoffenheim – that was the goal of Leverkusen’s coach Roberto Pätzold before the season. That seems successful, because at least Hoffenheim has nothing to do with the allocation of international places. Unlike the Bayer women, who can at least theoretically still catch up with Eintracht and VfL. Four or five points separate you from the Champions League.
In a win against Leipzig on Saturday, everything is still possible. However, Leverkusen has to hope for slips from the others and then hit Wolfsburg on the last day of the day. Nevertheless, it is liberating not to have it in your own hands, said Pätzold on the last match day. You are now focusing on breaking records. In fact, Leverkusen has never been as successful as in this season. The Rhinelanders could already celebrate twelve victories, and eight goals are still missing for the Torrecord.
UWCL reform for the next season
The direct reaching of the league – just like in men, the group phase will also be replaced by a new league system in the Champions League of women for the next season – would be quite profitable for the clubs. Because these can expect higher income from the Champions League over the next five years, since the UEFA adapted the distribution amounts.
The 18 clubs, which take part in the league, will surely receive 505,000 euros in the seasons 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, after which it will be 670,000 euros. In addition, the UEFA releases success premiums. Overall, the winner can earn 1.9 million euros in 2026 – an increase of 41 percent to the current period. A total of 7.7 and 9.1 million euros are available for the teams who leave the qualification round. Reaching second place in the women’s Bundesliga would not only be worthwhile because of the vice championship title, it would also mean a blessing of money.