Previewing the Women's Champions League: Who should join Lyon, Barcelona in quarterfinals?

The draw for the second season of the Women's European Championship has thrown some familiar foes together.

In the women's draw, Lyon will face off againstArsenal.

There are questions to be asked about the new format, but we are shaping up for an entertaining tournament from here. The top four ranked sides were given a bye in the four groups, as were 12 teams that were forged in the qualification rounds. The groups can still throw up a bit of excitement.

Group A: Chelsea (ENG), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Real Madrid (ESP), Vllaznia (ALB)

How they got here: - Chelsea: automatically qualified for group stage as 2021-22 WSL champions - PSG: defeated BK Hacken in Round 2 (League Path) - Real Madrid: defeated Sturm Graz and Man City in Round 1, Rosenborg in Round 2 (League Path)

- Vllaznia: defeated Spartak Myjava in Round 1, Vorslka Poltava in Round 2 (Champions Path)

A complicated trip to the northern city of Shkoder may be of little comfort to the Albanian champion. The business end of the group will be about the other three teams as Real Madrid will pose a far greater question this season than last when they were also drawn into a group with Paris Saint-Germain.

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The big European nights can be too much for some teams, including the Blues who failed to make the group stage last season. It will be an early litmus test for both of the former finalist when they travel to Paris this week.

Group B: VfL Wolfsburg (GER), Slavia Prague (CZE), St. Pölten (AUT), Roma (ITA)

How they got here: - VfL Wolfsburg: automatically qualified for group stage as 2021-22 Frauen Bundesliga champions - Slavia Prague: defeated Valur in Round 2 (Champions Path) - St. Polten: defeated Ljuboten and Dinamo-BGU Minsk in Round 1, KuPS in Round 2 (Champions Path)

- AS Roma: defeated Glasgow City and Paris FC in Round 1, Sparta Prague in Round 2 (League Path)

Two-time European champion Wolfsburg are the team to set the pace against two group-stage debutantes, St. Plten and Roma, and a team that's familiar with the latter stages of the competition.

Any dropped points against each other could be fatal for each of the three non-German teams. If they are to have a chance of beating Slavia, the runners up in Italy will need to get over their nerves quickly.

Group C: Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), Arsenal (ENG), Juventus (ITA), FC Zürich (AUT)

How they got here: - Lyon: automatically qualified for group stage as 2021-22 Division 1 Femenine champions, also defending WUCL champions - Arsenal: defeated Ajax in Round 2 (League Path) - Juventus: defeated Union FC and Kiryat Gat in Round 1, HB Koge in Round 2 (Champions Path)

- FC Zurich: defeated KI and Apollon Limassol in Round 1, SFK 2000 in Round 2 (Champions Path)

One of the four former winners of the tournament is in Lyon, which could make it the most difficult group this season. Joe Montemurro was the coach of the team that advanced to the quarterfinals last season.

FC Zrich are unlikely to affect the group with the fireworks likely to take place in Torino.

Group D: Barcelona (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Rosengard (NOR), Benfica (POR)

How they got here: - Barcelona: automatically qualified for group stage as 2021-22 Primera Division champions - Bayern Munich: defeated Real Sociedad in Round 2 (League Path) - Rosengard: defeated SK Brann in Round 2 (Champions Path)

- Benfica: defeated EP-COM Hajvalia and Twente in Round 1, Rangers in Round 2 (Champions Path)

The group stage is likely to serve as a good gauge as to where the teams will be at the end of the competition, since they clashed with each other in the group stage last season.

The Barcelona Women are playing two group games.

Even if they end up playing second fiddle to the Catalans in this particular round, squaring off against them later in the group stage is a bonus for a team that has all the pieces to go far.

Who advances?

There are going to be a few surprises along the way with a group stage that will twist and turn through the cold winter nights.

In Group A, I can see Real Madrid making it through to the knockout stages, as the Spanish side should have the edge over the French side. Group B is easy to navigate, but I think there will be a fight for second place.

In Group C, I think that the Italians could be in trouble and that the French could be in trouble as well, though the Italians have been playing well lately. Although there could be some hard-fought matches, Group D should be over and done with by the time the group stage ends.