The NWSL isn't the only league with high stakes this week. Across Europe and in the U.S. second division, three competitions head into big matches. Here's what to watch, starting today.
Champions League Matchday 2: two heavyweight games
The UEFA Women's Champions League is in its second season with an 18-team league phase, and Matchday 1 (Sept. 22–23) delivered: Barcelona beat Paris FC 5-2, OL Lyonnes won 8-0 at Servette, Bayern and Manchester City drew 2-2, and Chelsea and Arsenal both won 1-0, per UEFA. Matchday 2 raises the level:
- OL Lyonnes vs. Chelsea, Wed, Sept 30, 3:00 PM ET. After Lyon's 8-0 opener, this is the biggest game of the week. It's worth watching whether Naomi Girma plays. She hasn't played since Sept. 2 and picked up a knock on USWNT roster day.
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Thu, Oct 1, 3:00 PM ET. City want their first league-phase win after the draw in Munich.
- Also Wednesday: Roma vs. Barcelona, Häcken vs. Juventus and Paris FC vs. Arsenal (all 12:45 PM ET), plus Benfica vs. Bayern (3:00 PM ET). Thursday: Austria Wien vs. Inter, HB Køge vs. Servette (12:45 PM ET) and PSG vs. OH Leuven (3:00 PM ET).
WSL: Arsenal needs a result at the Etihad
The 2025 European champions are off to a rough start. Arsenal has one win in its first four WSL matches and sits seventh on five points, according to The Athletic, after last weekend's 1-0 loss to Chelsea. Sunday's trip to Manchester City (11:30 AM ET, Etihad Stadium) is the kind of game that either turns a season around or deepens the hole. Earlier that day, Chelsea visits West Ham, and on Saturday Manchester United hosts Liverpool (8:30 AM ET). Catch up on the early-season picture in our WSL Matchweek 2 storylines.
Gainbridge Super League: a six-goal thriller at the top
In the U.S., league-leading Carolina Ascent saw its three-match win streak end in a 3-3 draw with Sporting JAX on Saturday. Carolina scored all three of its goals from set pieces, through Shea Groom, Jill Aguilera and Reese Tappan, per Carolina Ascent. A day earlier, defending champion Lexington SC beat Dallas Trinity FC 3-0.
This weekend: Brooklyn FC hosts Fort Lauderdale United on Friday (7:00 PM ET, Peacock) for its "Sharktober" night, and Lexington travels to Tampa Bay Sun FC on Sunday (5:00 PM ET). The GSL is playing a shortened 14-match fall season before moving to a spring-to-fall calendar in 2027, so every point counts more than usual. The regular season ends November 28.
The week at a glance
Every kickoff above, plus the full NWSL slate, is on our homepage schedule in This Week's Games. All times are Eastern.
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