Nine Matildas Gear Up for Champions League Finals Showdown

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Set your alarms and prepare the coffee — Australian women’s football is about to experience a monumental occasion reminiscent of the Matilda craze during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

In two different cities, nine Matildas players will participate in what promises to be a significant night for women’s football as two teams vie in the Champions League finals.

The first match kicks off on Saturday night at 10pm AEST, with Melbourne City taking on Wuhan Jiangda in the inaugural full Women’s Asian Champions League tournament final.

Six Australians, among them current Matildas Holly McNamara, Bryleeh Henry, and Leah Davidson, alongside Laura Hughes, Karly Roestbakken, and seasoned goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, will be competing for the title and a share of the $2 million prize pool.

“It’s so exciting for it to be the first structured Asian Women’s Champions League,” McNamara shared with AAP.

“To get all the way to the final as an Australian team is a really good credit to us, and it’s something that we’ve been working towards as soon as we found out about the competition.

“Of course, representing your country is a major milestone, making those games very significant in my career. But in terms of club play, this is undoubtedly the most significant game.”

Australians look to grasp European Champions League trophy

Then, four hours later at 2am AEST Sunday morning, three of the Matildas’ biggest stars — Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross — will run out in the European Women’s Champions League final.

Their club, Arsenal, is aiming to upset reigning champions Barcelona in front of a packed crowd in Lisbon.

If Barcelona is successful, it would be their third consecutive championship win.

Meanwhile, underdogs Arsenal are hoping for an upset and are vying to win their second-ever European title.

Three players wearing red Arsenal football team jerseys walk across a football field.

Steph Catley (centre) and Kyra Cooney-Cross (right) of Arsenal aspire to join the elite group of Australian footballers who have secured a victory in the European Women’s Champions League final. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

It’s the first time all three women will contest a Champions League final — and they’ll be hoping to join the likes of Ellie Carpenter, who is the only Australian woman to lift the trophy after 2020 and 2022 wins with Lyon.

The only other Australian to win the tournament is Harry Kewell, who won the 2005 final of the Men’s Champions League with Liverpool.

‘Anything can happen’

Catley said Arsenal had “put ourselves in such an incredible position”.

“A one-off final. Anything can happen, two amazing teams going at it.”

“It’s the best thing about Champions League football. And there’s no place I’d rather be.”

Matilda player, Steph Catley, has her sights set on winning the Champions League with Arsenal. Source: AAP / Jay Patel

“Obviously, for Australians that follow Arsenal and that follow us, it’s a massive occasion.”

Catley said the barriers to Australian women’s footballers succeeding on the world stage made the feat even sweeter.

“There is something special about Australians doing well on the world stage, and I think in particular in European football,” she said.

“Because anyone that knows world football knows how hard it is to be successful over here, especially in the Champions League, and in European competitions in general.”

“Playing in a Champions League final is, along with probably a World Cup final, as high as you can get.”

She believes it can also inspire young Australian footballers.

“If you see there’s three Australians playing in this Champions League final, then it’s definitely possible for them,” Catley said

– With reporting by Australian Associated Press.