Women's Champions League kicks off

The new UEFA Women's Champions League season kicks off on Tuesday with matches in qualifying round mini-tournaments across nine different venues.

Qualifying round groups: games Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
Group 1: Apollon (CYP)*, PAOK (GRE), KÍ Klaksvík (FRO), Hajvalia (KOS)

Group 2: Standard Liège (BEL), Osijek (CRO)*, Minsk (BLR), Dragon 2014 (MKD)

Group 3: ŽFK Spartak (SRB), NSA Sofia (BUL), Breidablik (ISL), Cardiff Met (WAL)*

Group 4: Olimpia Cluj (ROU), Medyk Konin (POL)*, Pärnu (EST), Breznica Pljevija (MNE)

Group 5: FC Zürich (SUI), Pomurje (SVN)*, Slovan Bratislava (SVK), KS Vllaznia (ALB)

Group 6: SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH)*, WFC Kharkiv (UKR), Ramat HaSharon (ISR), Rīgas FS (LVA)

Group 7: BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ), Gintra Universitetas (LTU), Wexford Youths (IRL)*, Criuleni (MDA)

Group 8: PK-35 Vantaa (FIN)*, Avaldsnes (NOR), CF Benfica (POR), Newry City (NIR)

Group 9: FC Twente (NED)*, Konak Belediyespor (TUR), Ferencváros (HUN), Hibernians (MLT)

*hosts

What you need to know

• The nine group winners advance to join the 23 teams given byes to the round of 32.
• Among the contenders, Twente reached the round of 16 last term, knocking out Bayern München.
• Twente's opponents Konak, plus Olimpia Cluj, Zürich and Gintra, have also previously made the last 16.
• One of the groups is being staged by Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Stadium; the final will be played elsewhere in the Welsh capital at Cardiff City Stadium on 1 June.
• Avaldsnes, Ramat HaSharon, Newry City, Breznica Pljevija, Criuleni and Hajvalia (the first Kosovan entrants) are all making their debuts.
• Faroese champions KÍ Klaksvík maintain their unique record of entering all 16 seasons of UEFA women's competition.

Cardiff City Stadium©AFP/Getty Images

Tournament calendar
Qualifying round: 23–28 August
Round of 32 draw: 1 September
Round of 32: 5/6 & 12/13 October
Round of 16 draw: 17 October
Round of 16: 9/10 November & 16/17 November
Quarter-final & Semi-final draw: 25 November
Quarter-finals: 22/23 & 29/30 March
Semi-finals: 22/23 & 29/30 April
Final (Cardiff City Stadium): 1 June

Full entry list with coefficients

Lyon won their third title last season©Sportsfile

Bye to round of 32
Lyon (FRA, holders)
Wolfsburg (GER)
FC Rosengård (SWE)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)
Brøndby IF (DEN)
Barcelona (ESP)
Rossiyanka (RUS)
Glasgow City FC (SCO) 
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Bayern München (GER)
Zvezda-2005 (RUS) 
Brescia (ITA)
Verona (ITA)
Slavia Praha (CZE)
Chelsea (ENG)
Eskilstuna United (SWE)
LSK Kvinner (NOR)
St. Pölten (AUT)
Manchester City (ENG)
Athletic Club (ESP)
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Hibernian (SCO)