No hiding place in round of 16
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
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Holders VfL Wolfsburg and the three other former European title winners involved this season face extremely tough ties as the round of 16 is played over the next week.
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Holders VfL Wolfsburg and the three other former European title winners involved in this season's UEFA Women's Champions League face extremely tough ties as the round of 16 is played over the next week.
All the first legs take place at the weekend, with the returns next Wednesday and Thursday to determine the eight teams that will enter March's quarter-finals. Wolfsburg, winners in their debut campaign last term, have a tough test of their unbeaten European record as they meet Swedish champions FCR Malmö. The tie brings together the competition's top two all-time scorers, Wolfsburg's Conny Pohlers and Malmö's Anja Mittag, both winners with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in 2005.
Potsdam themselves have a rematch of their 2010 final triumph – and defeat 12 months later – against fellow two-time champions Olympique Lyonnais. Meanwhile 2007 victors Arsenal LFC, managed by a Scot and with three players from that nation, take on cross-border rivals Glasgow City LFC.
Aiming to emulate Wolfsburg by winning as debutants, and having already eliminated Paris Saint-Germain, Tyresö FF tackle 2003 runners-up Fortuna Hjørring, who are attempting to end a run of four straight round of 16 exits.
Two of last season's beaten quarter-finalists, FC Rossiyanka and ASD Torres Calcio, lock horns in another strong tie. Three new quarter-finalists are guaranteed as FK Zorkiy Krasnogorsk play Birmingham City LFC, FC Barcelona encounter FC Zürich Frauen and newcomers Konak Belediyesi meet experienced SV Neulengbach.
The eventual eight winners go into the draw for the remainder of the competition in Nyon on 21 November. The two-legged quarter-finals in March and semis in April will be played on the last two weekends of each month and the final is in Lisbon on Thursday 22 May.
Round of 16 ties
(Saturday & Wednesday, *first leg Sunday, **second leg next Thursday)
*FC Barcelona (ESP) v FC Zürich Frauen (SUI)
*Konak Belediyesi (TUR) v SV Neulengbach (AUT)**
Fortuna Hjørring (DEN) v Tyresö FF (SWE)**
FC Rossiyanka (RUS) v ASD Torres Calcio (ITA)**
*1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER) v Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)**
FK Zorkiy Krasnogorsk (RUS) v Birmingham City LFC (ENG)
FCR Malmö (SWE) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER, holders)
Arsenal LFC (ENG) v Glasgow City LFC (SCO)
Tournament calendar
Round of 16: 9/10 November & 13/14 November
Quarter-final & Semi-final draw: 21 November
Quarter-finals: 22/23 & 29/30 March
Semi-finals: 19/20 & 26/27 April
Final (Lisbon): 22 May
