TSC face Leuven in the second round of the Women’s Champions League

The draw for the first two rounds of the Women’s Champions League has been held and set the paths of the Serbian teams in the competition. Crvena zvezda, the Serbian champion, was left out after failing to obtain the required licence. The country’s representation is inherited by TSC, the runner-up, which enters directly in the second round.

TSC drawn into Group 5 and measures up against a Belgian club

The draw placed the TSC players in Group 5 of the second round, in the so-called Staza šampiona. On 5 August, the Serbian side faces Leuven of Belgium in a match counting for the semi-finals of the mini-tournament. The winner advances to the group final.

The other semi-final of Group 5 pits Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine against Fenerbahçe of Turkey. The winner of that clash awaits TSC or Leuven in the decider, scheduled for 8 August. At stake is a place in the third round of qualifying. The third-place match is also set for the same day.

How the format works

The first round is played in knockout format, and only five advance. Those five join another 39 teams in the second round, for a total of 44 teams in contention.

From the second round, 11 winners move on to the third round, where they meet seven already qualified teams. There are nine tournaments in total. The nine third-round winners secure a spot in the group stage, where nine clubs with direct access await them – the traditional powerhouses of European women’s football.

The third-round draw is scheduled for 11 August in Nyon, UEFA headquarters. The first legs will be on 26 August and the return legs on 2 September.

The first round already has its groups set

While TSC waits for August, the first round begins earlier. The semi-finals are set for 22 June and the finals for 25 July. Among the ties at this stage, highlights include the duel between PAOK and Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem in Group 1, and Pyunik against Wrexham in Group 3. Spartak Myjava enters directly in the Group 5 final, without having to play the semi-final.

For TSC, the mission is mapped out. Two matches in August could secure a historic run in the Champions League. The Belgian opponent is solid, but not insurmountable. The path exists.