FC Bayern is already in the quarter-finals, VfL Wolfsburg has to take a detour: at least one women’s Bundesliga team has made it directly into the round of the last eight of the Champions League.
At the end of the league phase, champions Bayern submitted a 3-0 (2-0) win against Valerenga IF from Norway thanks to help from the shooters. Wolfsburg, however, has to go into the play-offs after a 1:2 (1:1) draw against Chelsea FC.
Bayern jumped into the top four of the 18 teams because their competitors Juventus Turin and Real Madrid failed. Momoko Tanikawa (2nd), Stine Ballisager (11th) and Pernille Harder (58th) scored their fourth three-pointer in the sixth preliminary round game with their 50th goal in the red and white jersey.
The victory could have been higher. Carolin Simon (9th) hit the crossbar with a corner, captain Georgia Stanway was denied by goalkeeper Tove Enblom with a hand penalty (34th).
In front of national coach Christian Wück, coach José Barcala had the luxury of resting top players like Giulia Gwinn and Magdalena Eriksson – DFB captain Gwinn was only substituted in the final phase (78th). Nevertheless, his team was clearly superior, only Klara Bühl missed several good opportunities.
VfL Wolfsburg loses after taking the lead
Wolfsburg also had more potential: long-time national team captain Alexandra Popp (16th) took the lead early on for VfL, who missed several chances to make it 2-0. Lucy Bronze (45th) punished this with a header shortly before the break. Australian international striker Sam Kerr (64th) turned the game around and shot Chelsea into the quarter-finals.
Previously, Alyssa Thompson (46th) had already missed the best chances of making it 2-1 for the English team when she shot against the post and Erin Cuthbert (47th, 57th). National player Sjoeke Nüsken came on as a substitute for the guests at half-time. Bitter for VfL: A home win would have been enough for a direct quarter-final place thanks to the appropriate support.
In addition to Bayern, FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyon and Chelsea also advanced directly to the quarter-finals, which took place on 4/25. March and 1st/2nd April 2026 will be held. The teams in fifth to twelfth place in the league phase, on the other hand, have to finish 11th/12th. and 18th/19th February ran. The knockout round will be drawn on Thursday (1 p.m.) in Nyon.