2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League explained

Tourney Name:UEFA Women's Champions League
Year:2016–17
Size:275px
Dates:Qualifying round:
23–28 August 2016
Knockout phase:
Num Teams:Knockout phase: 32
Total: 59
Associations:47
Champion Other: Lyon
Count:4
Second Other: Paris Saint-Germain
Top Scorer: Zsanett Jakabfi
Vivianne Miedema
(8 goals each)
Prevseason:2015–16
Nextseason:2017–18

The 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League was the 16th edition of the European women's club football championship organised by UEFA, and the 8th edition since being rebranded as the UEFA Women's Champions League.

The final was held at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on 1 June 2017, two days before the final of the men's tournament played at the Millennium Stadium.[1]

Lyon were the defending champions, and successfully defended their title after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final 7–6 on penalties after a goalless draw, and equalled Frankfurt's record of four European titles.[2]

Expansion

The tournament was expanded such that the top 12 national associations (instead of the previous top 8) in the rankings were allowed to enter two teams in the competition.[3]

The change has been criticized, as it broadens the tournament but doesn't add teams from top countries.[4] The lack of an increase in prize-money also has been criticized.[5] For the first time the clubs receive money for flights to away games. The amount increases from €12,000 over €17,000 to €20,000 based on flight time.

Association team allocation

A total of 59 teams from 47 of the 55 UEFA member associations participated in the 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League, which was a record number of entries.[6] The ranking based on the UEFA Women's Champions League association coefficient is used to determine the number of participating teams for each association:[7]

Association ranking

For the 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League, the associations were allocated places according to their 2015 UEFA Women's Champions League association coefficient, which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 2010–11 to 2014–15.[8]

Scotland for the first time receive two entries in the UEFA Women's Champions League.[9]

RankAssociationCoeff.Teams
1 Germany96.000align=center rowspan=122
2 France76.000
3 Sweden61.500
4 England58.000
5 Russia44.000
6 Spain41.000
7 Denmark39.000
8 Italy35.000
9 Austria32.500
10 Czech Republic32.000
11 Scotland29.000
12 Norway27.500
13 Switzerland27.000align=center rowspan=71
14 Cyprus19.000
15 Poland18.500
16 Kazakhstan18.000
17 Netherlands17.000
18 Iceland17.000
19 Belgium17.000
RankAssociationCoeff.Teams
20 Hungary15.500align=center rowspan=181
21 Serbia14.000
22 Romania14.000
23 Finland13.000
24 Lithuania11.000
25 Republic of Ireland11.000
26 Turkey11.000
27 Ukraine11.000
28 Belarus11.000
29 Greece10.500
30 Slovenia10.000
31 Portugal9.500
32 Bosnia and Herzegovina9.000
33 Croatia8.000
34 Israel8.000
35 Bulgaria6.500
36 Slovakia6.500
37 Estonia5.000
RankAssociationCoeff.Teams
38 Faroe Islands4.000align=center rowspan=91
39 Wales3.000
40 Macedonia3.000
41 Northern Ireland2.000
42 Albania1.500
43 Montenegro1.000
44 Moldova0.500
45 Malta0.000
46 Latvia0.000
47 Luxembourg0.000align=center rowspan=20
48 Georgia0.000
Kosovoalign=right rowspan=70.0001
Andorraalign=center rowspan=60
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Gibraltar
Liechtenstein
San Marino
Notes

Distribution

The format of the competition remains unchanged from previous years, starting from the qualifying round, which is played as mini-tournaments with four teams in each group, followed by the knockout phase starting from the round of 32, which is played as home-and-away two-legged ties except for the one-match final.

Unlike the men's Champions League, not every association enters a team, and so the exact number of teams in each round (qualifying round and round of 32) can not be determined until the full entry list is known. In general, the title holders, the champions of the top 12 associations, plus the runners-up of highest-ranked associations (exact number depending on the number of entries) receive a bye to the round of 32. All other teams (runners-up of lowest-ranked associations plus champions of associations starting from 13th) enter the qualifying round, with the group winners plus a maximum of two best runners-up advancing to the round of 32 to join the direct qualifiers.

With 59 entries for this season, the lowest-ranked 36 teams enter the qualifying round (9 groups), with only the 9 group winners advancing to the round of 32 to join the 23 direct qualifiers.[10]

Teams

The following list the teams that qualified and entered this season's competition.[6] Here CH denotes the national champion, RU the national runner-up. Entries from 49 associations were possible. Three associations have no current league (Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein, San Marino). Azerbaijan only has junior leagues and teams from Liechtenstein play in the Swiss leagues. Gibraltar's league is only nine-a-side for 2015/16 and Andorra's is only five-a-side.[11] Thus they are ineligible as well. Armenia has a regular league with an 11-a-side champion crowned for autumn and summer,[12] but hasn't registered for European competition the last years. Also Georgia and Luxembourg did not enter a team. It's the first time a club (men or women) from Kosovo enters a UEFA competition.[13]

Round of 32 (Champions from associations 1–12 + Runners-up from associations 1–11)
Bayern Munich (CH) Wolfsburg (RU)[14] LyonTH (CH) Paris Saint-Germain (RU)
Rosengård (CH) Eskilstuna United DFF (RU) Chelsea (CH)[15] Manchester City (RU)
Zvezda Perm (CH)[16] Rossiyanka (RU) Athletic Club (CH) Barcelona (RU)
Fortuna Hjørring (CH) Brøndby (RU) Brescia (CH) AGSM Verona (RU)[17]
St. Pölten-Spratzern (CH)[18] Sturm Graz (RU) Slavia Praha (CH) Sparta Praha (RU)
Glasgow City (CH)[19] Hibernian (RU) Lillestrøm SK (CH)
Qualifying round (Runners-up from associations 12 + Champions from associations 13–55)
Avaldsnes IL (RU)[20] Zürich (CH)[21] Apollon Limassol (CH)[22] Medyk Konin (CH)[23]
BIIK Kazygurt (CH) Twente (CH)[24] Breiðablik (CH)[25] Standard Liège (CH)[26]
Ferencváros (CH)[27] Spartak Subotica (CH)[28] Olimpia Cluj (CH) PK-35 Vantaa (CH)[29]
Gintra Universitetas (CH)[30] Wexford Youths (CH)[31] Konak Belediyespor (CH)[32] Zhytlobud Kharkiv (CH)
FC Minsk (CH) PAOK (CH)[33] Pomurje (CH)[34] CF Benfica (CH)[35]
SFK 2000 (CH)[36] Osijek (CH)[37] Ramat HaSharon (CH) NSA Sofia (CH)
Slovan Bratislava (CH)[38] Pärnu JK (CH)[39] KÍ Klaksvík (CH) Cardiff Met. LFC (CH)[40]
ŽFK Dragon 2014 (CH)[41] Newry City (CH)[42] Vllaznia (CH)[43] Breznica (CH)[44]
ARF Criuleni (CH) Hibernians (CH)[45] Rīgas FS (CH)[46] Hajvalia (CH)[47]

Round and draw dates

UEFA has scheduled the competition as follows (all draws are held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland).[48]

RoundDrawFirst legSecond leg
Qualifying round 24 June 2016 23–28 August 2016
Round of 32 1 September 2016 5–6 October 2016 12–13 October 2016
Round of 16 17 October 2016 9–10 November 2016 16–17 November 2016
Quarter-finals 25 November 2016 22–23 March 2017 29–30 March 2017
Semi-finals 22–23 April 2017 29–30 April 2017
Final 1 June 2017 at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Qualifying round

See main article: article and 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round. The draw was held on 24 June 2016, 13:30 CEST, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.[49] [50] The 36 teams were allocated into four seeding positions based on their UEFA club coefficients at the beginning of the season. They were drawn into nine groups of four containing one team from each of the four seeding positions. First, the nine teams which were pre-selected as hosts were drawn from their own designated pot and allocated to their respective group as per their seeding positions. Next, the remaining 27 teams were drawn from their respective pot which were allocated according to their seeding positions.

In each group, teams play against each other in a round-robin mini-tournament at the pre-selected hosts. The nine group winners advance to the round of 32 to join the 23 teams which qualified directly. The matchdays are 23, 25 and 28 August 2016.

Group 9

Knockout phase

See main article: article and 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League knockout phase.

In the knockout phase, teams play against each other over two legs on a home-and-away basis, except for the one-match final. The mechanism of the draws for each round is as follows:

Round of 32

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 1 September 2016, 13:30 CEST, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.[51] [52]

Round of 16

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 17 October 2016, 13:30 CEST, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.[53] [54] [55]

Quarter-finals

The draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals was held on 25 November 2016, 13:30 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.[56] [57]

Final

See main article: article and 2017 UEFA Women's Champions League Final.

The final was played on 1 June 2017 at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.[58] The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.[56]

Statistics

Qualifying goals count towards the topscorer award.

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerTeamGoals
Total
1 Zsanett Jakabfi Wolfsburg88
Vivianne Miedema Bayern Munich8
3 Gulnara Gabelia BIIK Kazygurt437
Alexandra Lunca Olimpia Cluj7
Aleksandra Sikora Medyk Konin52
6 Cristiane Paris Saint-Germain66
Hege Hansen Avaldsnes IL51
Fabienne Humm FC Zürich33
Eugénie Le Sommer Lyon6
Loredana Popa Olimpia Cluj6

Squad of the season

The UEFA technical study group selected the following 18 players as the squad of the tournament:[59]

PlayerTeam
Sarah Bouhaddi Lyon
Katarzyna Kiedrzynek Paris Saint-Germain
Lucy Bronze Manchester City
Kadeisha Buchanan Lyon
Griedge Mbock Bathy Lyon
Wendie Renard Lyon
Ashley Lawrence Paris Saint-Germain
Eve Périsset Paris Saint-Germain
Jill Scott Manchester City
Camille Abily Lyon
Saki Kumagai Lyon
Dzsenifer Marozsán Lyon
Grace Geyoro Paris Saint-Germain
Pernille Harder VfL Wolfsburg
Vivianne Miedema Bayern Munich
Eugénie Le Sommer Lyon
Cristiane Paris Saint-Germain
Zsanett Jakabfi VfL Wolfsburg

See also

External links

Notes and References

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  2. Web site: Lyon match Frankfurt's record. UEFA.com. 1 June 2017.
  3. Web site: New distribution concept for club competitions approved. UEFA.org. 23 March 2015.
  4. Web site: Vorschlag zur Aufwertung des Europapokals der Frauen. 23 March 2015. framba.de. 2015-08-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035832/http://www.framba.de/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6154%3Avorschlag-zur-aufwertung-des-europapokals-der-frauen&catid=122&Itemid=887. 2015-09-24. dead.
  5. Web site: UEFA increase countries eligible for two slots in women's Champions League. 25 March 2015. dailycannon.com.
  6. Web site: Women's Champions League entries confirmed. UEFA.com. 9 June 2016.
  7. Web site: Regulations of the UEFA Women's Champions League 2016/17 Season. UEFA.com. 4 March 2016.
  8. Web site: 2016/17 coefficient rankings. UEFA. 25 September 2015.
  9. Web site: Scotland among 12 nations with two entries . UEFA . 25 September 2015 . 25 September 2015.
  10. Web site: Access List for the UEFA Women's Champions League 2016/17 . UEFA.com.
  11. Web site: Femení Base, Femení Base. 11 August 2015. faf.ad.
  12. Web site: Մրցաշարեր. 11 August 2015. ffa.am.
  13. Web site: UEFA lejon Hajvalinë të luajë në Ligën e Kampionëve. 7 May 2016. koha.net.
  14. Web site: Wolfsburg macht Champions-League-Teilnahme perfekt. 16 May 2016. womensoccer.de. 16 May 2016. 9 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009090146/http://www.womensoccer.de/2016/05/16/wolfsburg-macht-champions-league-teilnahme-perfekt/. dead.
  15. Web site: Chelsea seal Women's Super League title . BBC . 4 October 2015 . 5 October 2015.
  16. Web site: Josee Nahi won double with Zvezda-2005 Perm . lta-agency.com . 17 November 2015.
  17. Web site: Calcio femminile, Agsm Verona da delirio: batte la Fiorentina e vola in Champions League!. 21 March 2016. trivenetogoal.it.
  18. Web site: Mission Titelverteidigung erfolgreich abgeschlossen. fsk-stpoelten.at. 9 May 2016. 9 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009152705/http://www.fsk-stpoelten.at/de/19952?entry=26507. 9 October 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: Glasgow City secure their ninth league title in a row . BBC Sport . BBC . 18 October 2015 . 18 October 2015.
  20. Web site: Village beckons for Champions League winner. https://web.archive.org/web/20160209074646/http://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2016/m=1/news=village-beckons-for-champions-league-winner-2756357.html. dead. February 9, 2016. FIFA. 25 January 2016. 25 January 2016.
  21. Web site: FCZ feiert Meistertitel. 25 May 2016. blickamabend.ch. 25 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160529053309/http://www.blickamabend.ch/sport/wie-bitte-der-fcz-kann-heute-auch-meister-werden-id5074138.html. 29 May 2016. dead.
  22. Web site: Η Άντρη Βιολάρη (αριστερά με τη φανέλα της Εθνικής μας) αναδείχτηκε πρώτη σκόρερ. (Eighth consecutive title for Apollon Ladies) . cfa.com.cy . 25 February 2016 . 15 February 2016 . el .
  23. Web site: Medyk Konin obronił tytuł mistrzyń Polski w piłce nożnej kobiet. 14 May 2016. eurosport.onet.pl. 16 May 2016. 18 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818124244/http://eurosport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/medyk-konin-obronil-tytul-mistrzyn-polski-w-pilce-noznej-kobiet/74ecnd. dead.
  24. Web site: FC Twente Vrouwen Voor Vierde Jaar op Rij Kampioen Van Nederland. 20 May 2016. tubantia.nl.
  25. Web site: Paris step up, Chelsea push as knockouts near. UEFA. 11 September 2015. 9 September 2015.
  26. Web site: Standard-Meisjes pakken Belgische tiel na winst op…Anderlecht. HBVL. 21 May 2016. 20 May 2016.
  27. Web site: MTK Hungária FC – Ferencvárosi TC 1-3 (0-2) (GALÉRIA). 23 May 2016. mtkhungaria.hu. 2016-05-25. 2017-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113085735/http://mtkhungaria.hu/hirek/mtk-hungaria-fc-ferencvarosi-tc-1-3-0-2-galeria-/2016-05-23-20-39-59. dead.
  28. Web site: ŽFK Spartak u nedelju proslavlja 6. uzastopnu titulu. 20 May 2016. TV Subotica.
  29. Web site: PK-35 voitti jo viidennen Suomen mestaruutensa 2010-luvulla. 4 September 2015. hs.fi.
  30. Web site: "Gintros-Universiteto" komanda 11 kartą iš eilės užsitikrino Lietuvos čempionių titulą (11th consecutive title for Gintra) . lff.lt . 28 September 2015 . 28 September 2015 . lt . 28 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928185626/http://www.lff.lt/lt/article/gintros-universiteto_komanda_11_karta_is_eiles_uzsitikrino_lietuvos_cempioniu_titula . dead .
  31. Web site: ContinentalTyres WNL. 22 May 2016. Twitter.
  32. Web site: Kadınlar 1. Lig Fikstür ve Puan Cetveli . Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu . tr . 31 March 2016.
  33. Web site: Match report Elpides Karditsas vs PAOK . karditsasportiva.gr . 17 April 2016 . 18 April 2016 . el . 20 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160420135858/http://karditsasportiva.gr/%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B3%CE%BF-%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%AE-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%87%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%AC%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%B5%CE%BB/ . dead .
  34. Web site: Petica za peto zaporedno krono. znkpomurje.com. 3 May 2016. 3 May 2016. 3 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603003348/http://www.znkpomurje.com/index.php?p=1&n=435. dead.
  35. Web site: Futebol Benfica revalida título feminino, ao bater A-dos-Francos . destakes.com . 15 May 2016 . 15 May 2016 . pt .
  36. Web site: Nova titula za SFK Sarajevo 2000 . sportsport.ba . 17 April 2016 . 24 April 2016 . bs.
  37. Web site: Nogometašice Osijeka osmicom po treći ovosezonski trofej. 30 May 2016. glas-slavonije.hr.
  38. Web site: League table Slovakia. 14 May 2016. 14 May 2016.
  39. Web site: PJK naiskond kuuendat aastat järjest Eesti meister! . parnujk.ee . 26 September 2015 . 4 October 2015 . et.
  40. Web site: Cardiff Metropolitan Ladies win Welsh Premier Womens title . BBC . 21 April 2016 . 24 April 2016.
  41. Web site: Драгон со победа од 8-1 над Кочани ја одбрани титулата шампион на Македонија . gol.mk . 8 May 2016 . 8 May 2016.
  42. Web site: Magnificent Newry win title . Newry Democrat . 15 September 2015 . 2 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201003923/http://www.newrydemocrat.com/articles/news/48474 . 1 February 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  43. Web site: Vllaznia, edhe matematikisht kampione e Shqipërisë (Vllaznia now champion) . albaniansport.net . 17 April 2016 . 24 April 2016 . sq.
  44. Web site: Breznica novi sampion Crne Gore . cg-fudbal.com . 24 April 2016 . 18 April 2016 . sr.
  45. Web site: BOV Women's League . maltafootball.com . 19 April 2016 . 21 April 2016 . 27 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160427045446/http://www.mfa.com.mt/en/leagues/leagues/33/bov-womens-1st-div.htm?feature=news&mp=2187 . dead .
  46. Web site: Rīgas FS sieviešu komanda 3. gadu pēc kārtas izcīna čempionu titulu. 13 July 2015. rigasfutbolaskola.lv. 2015-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714143547/http://rigasfutbolaskola.lv/?p=2278. 2015-07-14. dead.
  47. Web site: Hajvalia wins the Kosovo Cup too. 8 June 2016. ffk-kosova.com. 6 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160625114341/http://www.ffk-kosova.com/en/?p=10619. 25 June 2016. dead.
  48. Web site: 2016/17 UEFA Women's calendar. UEFA.com. UEFA.
  49. Web site: Women's Champions League qualifying round draw. UEFA.com. 24 June 2016.
  50. Web site: Women's Champions League qualifying round draw. UEFA.com. 24 June 2016.
  51. Web site: Women's Champions League round of 32 draw. UEFA.com. 1 September 2016.
  52. Web site: Wolfsburg face Chelsea: round of 32 draw. UEFA.com. 1 September 2016.
  53. Web site: Women's Champions League round of 16 draw. UEFA.com. 17 October 2016.
  54. Web site: Women's Champions League round of 16 seedings. UEFA.com. 14 October 2016.
  55. Web site: Women's Champions League round of 16 draw. UEFA.com. 17 October 2016.
  56. Web site: Women's Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw. UEFA.com. 25 November 2016.
  57. Web site: Women's Champions League quarter-final draw. UEFA.com. 25 November 2016.
  58. Web site: 2017 final: Cardiff. UEFA.com.
  59. Web site: Women's Champions League Squad of the Season. UEFA.com. 2 June 2017.