Admittedly in the Champions League’s shadow, the Europa Cup does offer fresh opportunities for the game to develop
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t may be news to some, but there is a new competition kicking off in Europe this week. With qualifying complete, the business end of the Women’s Europa Cup gets under way on Wednesday. It will mark another milestone in women’s football, a side of the sport that is constantly evolving and developing.
Starting with the round of 16, teams will embark on a journey of two-legged knockout ties that lead to the inaugural final. The winner will also be decided across two legs, due to take place in May and June next year.
The Europa Cup is the younger sibling of the Women’s Champions League, a tournament that has enjoyed marked success and growth in recent years. However, while the brand of Uefa’s flagship domestic competition is strong, and its popularity and prestige ever-increasing, the number of available places remains relatively limited, despite an expanded format. While 65 teams took part across three rounds of qualifying this season, only 18 progressed to the league phase of the Champions League, meaning most sides’ European adventure is over before it has truly begun.
