The sixth UEFA Women's Cup gets under way on Tuesday with 43 clubs aiming to claim the trophy. While holders 1. FFC Frankfurt, former winners 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and Umeå IK plus four other seeds enter in next month's second qualifying round, the other 36 contestants must negotiate the first hurdle - with only nine group winners to progress.
HJK return
Among the teams competing this week are HJK Helsinki, semi-finalists in both the inaugural 2001/02 campaign and the season after. After three years without a Finnish title they are champions again and back in Europe. HJK visit F.Y.R. Macedonia to take on hosts ZFK Shkiponjat, Poland's KS AZS Wrocław - one of only three ever-present sides in the tournament - and Swiss representatives FFC Zuchwil 05 in Group A4. Should HJK prevail, they will earn a rematch against their 2002/03 nemesis, Frankfurt. Group A4 is played on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The other pools conclude a day later.
Niš run
Azerbaijan's Gömrükçü Baku, themselves former quarter-finalists, are in the Bulgaria-based Group A9 with hosts FC NSA Sofia, 1. FFC Femina Budapest and Moldova's FC Narta Chisinau. Serbia's ZFK Mašinac-Classic Niš, who have reached the last 16 in all five previous editions, participate in Group A6 in Slovenia against home team ŽNK Pomuje, Estonia's Pärnu FC and KFC Rapide Wezemaal of Belgium.
French hopefuls
The other sixth-time competitors, Klaksvíkar Ítrottarfelag, go from the Faroe Islands to Scotland where they will encounter Hibernian LFV, RCD Espanyol and FCF Juvisy, who hope to match compatriots Montpellier-Hérault SC's run to the semis in 2005/06. Espanyol are debutants, as are Group A7 rivals FK Slovan Duslo ŠaĬa of Slovenia and Russia's WFC Rossiyanka. Also taking their bows are Italy's ASD Fiammamonza, Moldovan outfit FC Narta Chisinau, Dundalk WFC from the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia's ŽNK Pomurje.
2006/07 UEFA Women's Cup draw
First qualifying round | | Group A1 (8-13 August) | | Saestum (NED) | | Cardiff City LFC (WAL) | | ŽNK Maksimir (CRO) | | Dundalk WFC (IRL) |
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| Group A2 (8-13 August) | | FCF Juvisy (FRA) | | Hibernian LFV (SCO) | | Klaksvíkar Ítrottarfelag(FAR) | | RCD Espanyol (ESP) |
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| Group A3 (8-13 August) | | SV Neulengbach (AUT) | | SU 1. Dezembro (POR) | | Newtownabbey Strikers WFC (NIR) | | Breidablik (ISL) |
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| Group A4 (8-12 August) | | KS AZS Wrocław (POL) | | FFC Zuchwil 05 (SUI) | | ZFK Shkiponjat (MKD) | | HJK Helsinki (FIN) |
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| Group A5 (8-13 August) | | Universitet Vitebsk FFC (BLR) | | ŽNK SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH) | | Gintra Universitetas (LIT) | | ASD Fiammamonza (ITA) |
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| Group A6 (8-13 August) | | ZFK Mašinac-Classic Niš (SCG) | | KFC Rapide Wezemaal (BEL) | | Pärnu FC (EST) | | ŽNK Pomurje (SLO) |
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| Group A7 (8-13 August) | | Alma KTZH (KAZ) | | CFF Clujana (ROM) | | WFC Rossiyanka (RUS) | | FK Slovan Duslo ŠaĬa (SVK) |
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| Group A8 (8-13 August) | | Legend-Chekseal Chernigov (UKR) | | Maccabi Holon FC (ISR) | | AEK Kokkinochovion Famagusta (CYP) | | FC PAOK (GRE) |
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| Group A9 (8-13 August) | | Gömrükçü Baku (AZE) | | 1. FC Femina Budapest (HUN) | | FC NSA Sofia (BUL) | | FC Narta Chisinau (MOL) |
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Second qualifying round
Group B1 | | | Winner Group A4 | | Winner Group A5 | | Winner Group A3 |
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| Group B2 | | Umeå IK (SWE) | | Kolbotn IK (NOR) | | Winner Group A8 | | Winner Group A2 |
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| Group B3 | | 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER) | | AC Sparta Praha (CZE) | | Winner Group A6 | | Winner Group A1 |
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| Group B4 | | Brøndby IF (DEN) | | Arsenal LFC (ENG) | | Winner Group A9 | | Winner Group A7 |
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