{"data":{"id":"feed-d4a9b3d0ba41bcbba9e32a5a","slug":"feed-d4a9b3d0ba41bcbba9e32a5a-unanswered-questions-for-english-teams-after-women-s-champions-league-returns","title":"Unanswered questions for English teams after Women's Champions League returns","excerpt":"Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City start bids for European glory in unconvincing fashion.","content":"Last season's top scorer Ewa Pajor of Barcelona scored twice on the opening night while Mariona Caldentey converted a late penalty to hand Arsenal victory\n\nThe Women's Champions League returned this week and with it came a host of unanswered questions for the ambitious English trio involved.\n\nArsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all have designs on winning the competition and, on the face of it, got their campaigns off to solid starts.\n\nArsenal and Chelsea both have three points after narrow home wins while City recovered from 2-0 down for a creditable draw at heavyweights Bayern Munich.\n\nBut scratch deeper, and this was an unconvincing week, particularly given last season's finalists Barcelona and Lyon both opened with commanding victories.\n\nAre the Women's Super League clubs equipped to challenge this season? What still needs addressing? And who has the best chance of lifting the trophy in Warsaw next May?\n\nLast season, Manchester City exploited their absence from European competition to romp to the Women's Super League title.\n\nIn returning to the elite tier this season, their squad will face greater tests, and that was immediately true when 2025-26 semi-finalists Bayern Munich raced into a two-goal lead.\n\nBut Andree Jeglertz's team gave an immediate indication they belong at this level by recovering to draw 2-2, with summer signings Beth Mead and Carlotta Wamser justifying their arrival at the champions with their first goals for the club.\n\nThat was crucial given usual goalscorer Khadija Shaw surprisingly proved fallible in missing a penalty.\n\nWhen she inevitably finds her shooting boots, City should be just fine in this competition.\n\nMan City fight back from two down to thwart Bayern","status":"published","imageUrl":"https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1024/cpsprodpb/faa1/live/e73726c0-b803-11f1-b1d1-571ed4d7ff2c.png","sourceUrl":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm1e516z2y8qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","sourceLocale":"en","sourceProvider":"BBC Sport Football","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-09-24T13:19:53Z","publishedAt":"2026-09-24T13:19:53Z","createdAt":"2026-09-24T13:26:13.911169Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-24T15:11:28.72124Z","translationCount":0,"manualOverrideCount":0,"mirroredAssetsCount":0,"hasSyncedSnapshot":true,"hasManualOverrides":false}}