Barcelona begin the defence of their Women's Champions League crown this week, with the rest of the field looking for ways to break their hold on the competition, according to EL PAÍS. The Spanish outlet frames the new campaign around one central question: how to stop the reigning champions.
The tournament opens with a meeting between two champions, according to naiz. Real Madrid's own website confirms the Women's Champions League is getting under way, while MARCA describes Barcelona's opening match as the start of their continental crown defence.
Paris Saint-Germain are among the sides expected to challenge. Diario AS reports that PSG defender Sakina Karchaoui said the club must live up to its status, telling the outlet: "We are PSG and we have to prove it."
The coverage points to a field built around the holders. EL PAÍS, MARCA and naiz all place Barcelona at the centre of the opening round, while Real Madrid's confirmation of the tournament's start underlines that the Spanish clubs are again part of the story. PSG's public message, carried by AS, signals that at least one rival intends to make the chase a talking point rather than a formality.
What to watch next: whether any contender can turn that talk into a result once the group stage gets going.
