A look at Cardiff City’s potential Champions League opponents

As the curtain falls on another Women’s Champions League final, attention turns to the next instalment of the competition.

Adran Premier champions Cardiff City return to the competition after an absence of over a decade.

Last time they competed in Europe’s elite tournament, they finished bottom of a group containing Konak Belediyesi of Turkey, SFK 2000 of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and NSA Sofia of Bulgaria.

This time, there are some notable teams that the Bluebirds could be drawn against. We take a look at four teams that could face up against the Welsh champions.

How does it work?

Before delving into who could come up against Iain Darbyshire’s side, let’s look at how the Champions League qualifiers work.

For this, we refer back to the dreaded UEFA coefficient.

The champions from the associations ranked between 8 and 50 are put into the first qualifying round.

These 42 teams are drawn into 11 mini tournaments, most containing four teams, but a handful contain three teams.

All the games in the mini tournament will be held in one of the four countries in the group.

There is a semi-final, a third-place playoff and a final. Win the final and you seal your spot in a two-legged tie in the second qualifying round.

Whoever comes through the second-round qualifier books a place in the group stages of the tournament.

There are some big hitters in this first round, let’s have a look at four of them.

Benfica

One of the toughest assignments in the first round could be navigating Portuguese champions Benfica.

The Eagles won their third consecutive title this year and boast some really talented players.

Kika Nazareth, Andreia Norton and Jessica Silva are regulars in Portugal’s front line, while veteran captain Silvia Rebelo is a natural leader in the defensive line.

Like Portugal themselves, Benfica play a style of football that is easy on the eye and containing them is a difficult task for any team.

The positive, however, is that many of their players have been called up by Portugal to play in the World Cup, and they would miss out on the qualifying games.

But in terms of name value, not many teams compete with Benfica.

Ajax

Another team that is on the same level as Benfica are Ajax.

Ajax won the Eredivise for the first time since the 2017-2018 season, but they have been regulars in the Champions League.

In the past they have reached the round of 32 and the round of 16 but got knocked out by the likes of Lyon and Bayern Munich.

Last season they gave Arsenal a good game but were narrowly defeated by the Gunners.

The standout player in their ranks is midfielder Sherida Spitse.

The captain has a staggering 215 appearances for the Netherlands and is a real midfield general.

Like Benfica, they will have players at the World Cup, but they will be a force in the early rounds.

Glasgow City

Looking closer to home, a tie against Scottish champions Glasgow City would represent an exciting encounter.

Glasgow City won the SWPL in dramatic circumstances on the final day, as they scored in the 92^nd minute at Ibrox to regain their crown after Rangers won it last season.

Like the two teams we’ve looked at already, Glasgow City are frequent visitors to the Champions League.

Last season they suffered heartbreak against Roma but will certainly be looking to go further this year.

They have a lot of experience, especially in the middle of the park. Captain Jo Love, along with Hayley Lauder and Megan Foley have played over 600 games for the club.

Up front, striker Lauren Davidson has proved that she can score when the pressure is on.

With Scotland not being in the World Cup, they will be one of the big hitters in the first round.

Anderlecht

Another country that won’t be at the World Cup is Belgium, and as a result, Anderlecht are certainly a team that City will want to test themselves against.

Anderlecht won their sixth consecutive Belgian title this season, making them the most successful side in the country.

Anderlecht have experience and talent all the way down the spine of their team.

They have recently signed goalkeeper Seraina Friedli from Swiss champions Zurich, while defender Laura de Neve has been at the club since 2010.

Romanian midfielder Stefania Vatafu is a maestro, while forward Marie Minnaert has scored 14 goals in her 23 appearances for the club.

Anderlecht have been knocked out in the final of the first qualifying round in the past two tournaments, and they will be hoping to go one step further this year.

Other to look out for

For those who are looking for a good away trip, Bluebirds fans will be crossing their fingers for a trip to Cyprus to face Apollon or to Malta to face Birkirkara.

For those who want a bit of an adventure, Iceland’s Valur or the Faroe Islands’ KI could provide excitement.

POAK, who conquered Swansea City last year, are back in the draw this time round, while Vllanzia of Albania competed in the group stages last season.

Whatever happens, it promises to be an exciting competition and journey for Cardiff City.