UEFA Women's Champions League

'Big test for Reid tonight'

Arsenal v Lyon (20.00 BST)

Nikita Parris

England forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

What really surprises me is five changes and Katie Reid coming in, as well as Taylor Hinds. That's a lot of changes for your back line.

You saw against Manchester City, Lotte Wubben-Moy, so you thought that would be the defence going into this Lyon game, but they're obviously not happy with the result, so made changes.

Katie Reid has had a fantastic start to the season but this is a really big test tonight.

BBC to show live Women's Champions League matches

BBC Sport has signed a five-year deal to broadcast live Women's Champions League matches from this season.

Manchester United's match with Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford on 12 November will be the first game to be shown on the BBC, followed by Chelsea's meeting with Spanish giants Barcelona on 20 November.

Director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: "This is a great moment for women's football and for BBC Sport.

"Bringing the Uefa Women's Champions League to a free-to-air audience is huge, but what makes this truly game-changing is our digital offering.

"Our multi-platform strategy means fans won't just watch the biggest games live on TV, they'll experience the best moments, goals and highlights across our website, app and social media platforms.

"We're making the competition more accessible, more visible and more connected than ever before".

No Emirates tonight for Arsenal

Arsenal v Lyon (20.00 BST)

Arsenal tonight begin their title defence as European champions - and they do so in rather humble surroundings.

While the Gunners play all their WSL matches at the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium, tonight's game is at Meadow Park - which has a max capacity of 4,500 with 1,700 seats.

The stadium, also home of men's fifth-tier side Boreham Wood, is still used by Arsenal for some cup matches. And it carries real European history.

It was here that Arsenal won their first Champions League title, holding Umea of Sweden to a goalless draw to win the two-legged final 1-0 on aggregate.

From humble origins, will another might European campaign grow?

How does the league phase work?

The Women's Champions League is following the lead of the men's tournament this year and moving from a group format to a league phase.

For those who have already followed the men's competition, it's a similar idea - but there are some changes.

There are half the number of teams, 18 rather than 36, which means there is no last 16 and teams play six matches rather than eight in the first phase.

Teams finishing first to fourth will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals, with the next eight teams - from fifth to 12th - facing off in two-legged play-offs to determine who will join them.

The sides from 13th to 18th will see their journey come to an end for the season.

Team News - Five Arsenal changes as Kelly and Mead start

Arsenal v Lyon (20.00 BST)

Renee Slegers has made five changes to the Arsenal team who lost 3-2 at Manchester City in the Women's Super League on Saturday.

Lotte Wubben-Moy did not train with the team on Monday for fitness reasons and is rotated to the bench today, as is Katie McCabe.

Katie Reid and Taylor Hinds come into the XI, as do Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead and Frida Maanum.

Arsenal XI: van Domselaar; Fox, Reid, Catley, Hinds; Caldentey, Little, Maanum; Kelly, Mead, Russo

Subs: Zinsberger, Borbe, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Nighswonger, Harwood, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Smith, Blackstenius

Lyon XI: Endler; Tarciane, Renard, Engen, Bacha; Heaps, Dumornay, Shrader; Diani, Katoto, Chawinga

136 days ago...

Joy unconfined, as Arsenal stunned Barcelona to lift their second Champions League trophy, and first in 17 years.

Tonight, they begin their defence of that trophy - and it is in at the deep end as they take on another European giant in Lyon.

The Women's Champions League is back, and is back with a bang.

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