Marsden: Several things. The way Roma imploded after equalising early in the second half. Wolfsburg always had the edge at home but, after losing 1-0 in the reverse fixture, I did not anticipate such a mauling. That said, there is far more talent and experience in the German side’s squad. Alexandra Popp ticks both of those boxes and her opening goal was brilliant. Of course, substitute Sveindís’ four-goal haul in 25 minutes on the pitch was also sensational.
Keogh: There was a striking contrast in approach and ability to deliver under pressure. It highlighted a clear disparity in experience and composure between the two sides when the stakes were highest. Roma, while an exciting and promising team, are still relatively new to this level of competition, having only participated in the tournament twice before. Their lack of deep European experience showed at a critical moment, as they struggled to find the resolve needed to close out the decisive game.
On the other hand, Wolfsburg exemplified the poise and approach that come with being a seasoned contender on the European stage. As former winners with a storied history in the Champions League, Wolfsburg have built a reputation for knowing how to navigate high-pressure situations. Their ability to pull out all the stops and maintain their composure when the match went down to the wire was a testament to their pedigree.
Which of the teams that didn’t get through could make a better run next year?
Keogh: I expect Juventus to come back stronger next season, especially after falling short this year despite their promising start. Their victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the qualifiers suggested they had the potential to compete with the best, but they struggled to truly challenge Bayern Munich and Arsenal in the group stage. With their resources, ambition, and growing experience on the European stage, Juve will undoubtedly aim to bridge the gap and make a deeper impact in the competition next season.
I’d love to see Celtic back in the competition next season, building on the positives from this season, despite failing to gain a point this time around. And I’m also eager to see the potential return of several other clubs like Benfica, Frankfurt, Häcken, and Ajax, all of whom failed to progress beyond the qualifiers this season but bring a lot to the table in terms of excitement and variety. Each of these teams has the potential to contribute to the unpredictability and competitiveness of the Champions League, qualities that felt somewhat lacking in this year’s edition.
Lawson: As we saw with Brann and Häcken last season, it can be hard to sustain growth when you’re on the fringes in Europe, but I’d love to see Vålerenga back next year. They deserve something for their pluckiness but will likely face similar hurdles to Hammarby and may not be able to hold on to their best players.
There should also be a better showing from a few who fell in the qualification stages, like Benfica, who had been finding their feet in Europe over the last few years, Paris FC, who took out some big guns last season, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Marsden: It’s hard to look at any of the eight teams heading out and say with any conviction they will do better next season. Juventus are one team that could improve. They are dominant in Italy this season so far and a favourable draw in the Swiss model could help them squeeze into the knockout rounds. Perhaps it will be a team that did not make the group stage this season, though, in PSG, who come back stronger next year.
Which game from the final round of matches will you be watching, if any?
Marsden: Barcelona hosting Manchester City, for various reasons. Firstly, because I think both teams will be desperate to come top of the group to potentially delay having to face Lyon or Chelsea. All eight quarterfinalists are strong, but they, along with Barça, are the strongest. Secondly, because Barça are out for revenge after losing to City in the first group game this season. And thirdly, because it will be played at the 50,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc. Barça have played all their home games so far this campaign at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff. Their fans tend to lift it when they move to bigger stadiums, previously Camp Nou, but more recently the Olympic Stadium while Camp Nou is redeveloped.
Keogh: After the much-discussed location controversy following the move to Meadow Park from the Emirates, Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich is an attractive option. This fixture promises to be thrilling, especially considering the explosive nature of the reverse fixture, which ended in a dramatic 5-2 scoreline and featured a sensational hat trick from Pernille Harder.
Lawson: A relentless glutton for punishment, I’ll be watching all of the games from the last matchday. But, as it’s first vs. second and third vs. fourth, we should have a good selection of games across all the groups especially as teams grapple for top spot, so we get Barcelona looking for a little revenge against Manchester City and the Renée Slegers’ version of Arsenal squaring off against Bayern. With Twente vs. Celtic, Juventus vs. Vålerenga and St. Pölten vs. Hammarby, you’ve got six teams who’ll all want to go out on a high, showing how much they’ve taken from this group stage and trying to end the calendar year with a win.
Finally, even though the Group A standings are set, we are set for the 10th Champions League meeting between Lyon and Wolfsburg — a final we’ve seen four times in UWCL history — but one that has been painfully one-sided since that first meeting in 2013. Wolfsburg have only won once, in 2017, and even then the 1-0 win wasn’t enough to go through on aggregate. In that time, Lyon have written their name in the women’s football history as one of the greatest teams ever.
