Ahead of Friday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 draw, Craig Edwards takes a look at our potential semi final opponents.
ZNK Osijek (CRO)
24 times Croatian champions, Osijek return to the UWCL after a years absence from the competition.
Two years ago, Osijek missed out on the Group Stage after losing to Breidablik in Round 2.
Glasgow City have faced Osijek twice in consecutive seasons with City winning both encounters.
FC Flora Tallinn (EST)
For a fifth consecutive season, Flora Tallinn won the Naiste Meistriliiga.
The Estonian side have never progressed past Round 1 in either format of the UWCL.
Glasgow City have never played against a team from Estonia.
Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX)
For a fourth successive season, Racing FC Union enter the UWCL after winning their league title.
Their best result is reaching the final of Round 1 two years ago after beating Sarajevo but missed out on Round 2 after defeat to Benfica.
Glasgow City have never met opposition from Luxembourg.
KuPS Kuopio (FIN)
Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) successfully defended their Kansallinen Liga title in 2022 to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for a second successive season.
Their debut season last year saw KuPS reach Round 2 but miss out on the group stage after an extra time defeat to St Polten.
Glasgow City have met Finish opposition once before with Jane Ross scoring a 1-1 draw against PK-35 Vantaa.
Birkirkara FC (MLT)
Eleven times champions of Malta, Birkirkara are regulars in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Birkirkara won their first ever match in Europe last season when they beat Glentroan in the 3rd place play off.
Birkirkara and Glasgow City met two years ago at this stage with City winning 3-0 at Broadwood Stadium along with a meeting ten years ago.
FC Qiryat Gat (ISR)
2022-23 saw Qiryat Gat secure a third successive Ligat Nashim title and their fifth in the club’s history.
This will be their fifth season in Europe and last year saw them secure a first ever victory when they beat Flora Tallinn in the Semi Final before missing out on a place in Round 2 after defeat to Juventus.
Glasgow City have never met an opponent from Israel.
SFK Riga (LVA)
SFK Riga claimed their first ever league title in 2022.
The first league triumph means it is a first qualification for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the side from the Latvian capital.
Glasgow City have never faced Latvian opposition before.
CSF Agarista Anenii Noi (MDA)
Five time champions of Moldova, Agarista Anenii Noi won back their title in 2022-23.
Despite missing out on the title the year before, Agarista Anenii Noi have played in the UWCL for the last five seasons but are yet to record a victory.
Glasgow City have a 100% record in two matches against Moldovan opposition.
KI Klaksvik (FRO)
Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, or KI as they are more commonly known as, have won 22 1. Delid Kvinnur title and are currently on a run of three in a row.
KI played in 17 consecutive UWCL seasons from 2001 and have only not taken part in two editions of the UWCL. They have won eight matches throughout their European history.
KI and Glasgow City met in 2011 with current Head Coach Leanne Ross amongst the scorers in a 5-0 victory for City.
Shelbourne FC (ROI)
For a third time, Shelbourne secured the Women’s National League title in 2022 to successfully defend their title they had won in 2021 for the first time in five years.
Shelbourne have only lost one European game in their history. Their first qualification in 2017 saw them exit at the qualifying stage with one win and two draws in the group stage while last season they beat Pomurje before losing 3-0 to Valur in the Round 1 final.
Glasgow City have played Irish opposition once in 2020 when we beat Peamount United on penalties. Future City players Niamh Farrelly and Claire Walsh featured for the Republic of Ireland side that night.
Spartak Myjava (SLO)
For a second successive season, Spartak Myjava secured the Slovak Women’s First League title.
It means a second attempt at the UWCL for Spartak, who lost in the Round 1 final last season to Vllaznia after beating Breznica in their first European match.
Glasgow City have never faced Slovakian opposition however were drawn in the same Round 1 qualifying group as Slovan Bratislava in 2021 but the two sides did not meet as City beat Birkirkara while Slovan Bratislava lost to BIIK-Shymkent in their semi final.
FC KFF-EP Hajvalia (KOS)
KFF-EP Hajvalia are two time champions of the SIGAL Women’s Superleague.
From Hajvalia, they made their European debut last season losing to Benfica but beat Moldovan side Agarista Anenii Noi in the third place play off to secure their first victory in the UWCL.
Glasgow City have never met a side from Kosovo.
Lokomotiv Stara Zagora (BUL)
Only formed in 2018, Lokomotiv Stara Zagora won their second successive Bulgarian Women’s League title in 2023.
Last season saw them make their debut in the UWCL and after losing to Dinamo Minsk, Lokomotiv Stara Zagora picked up their first ever European victory by beating Ljuboten 5-0 in North Macedonia.
Glasgow City have never played against Bulgarian opposition.
FC Samegrelo (GEO)
Samegrelo won their first ever Georgian Women’s football Championship in 2022 in their current name.
It will be a first time in the UWCL for Samegrelo who are based in the town of Chkhorotsku however under their previous name, FC Nike, they did feature in the UWCL.
City have a 100% record against Georgian teams in the UWCL. The first meeting between City and a Georgian team was back in 2009 when we beat Norchi 9-0 before a 7-0 victory over FC Martve in 2018.
GKS Katowice (POL)
Katowice won their first ever Polish Eskstraliga title by three points last season.
Based in the south of Poland, Katowice will make their debut in Europe this season.
Glasgow City have won two of their previous three meetings against Polish opposition, most recently the dramatic 2-0 victory over Gornik Leczna at the Oriam in 2018.
ZFK Ljuboten (MKD)
For the second season in a row, Ljuboten were crowned league champions in North Macedonia.
They made their debut in last season’s competition, suffering defeats to St Polten and Lokotomotiv Stara Zagora.
Glasgow City have never faced a side from North Macedonia.
Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi Fomget SK (TUR)
Anakara Büyükşehir Belediyesi Fomget Gençlik ve Spor Kulübü make their first UWCL appearance following a dramatic end to the Turkish Women’s Super League season.
After finishing second in Group B, Ankara beat Hakkarigücü and Fatih Vatan before beating reigning champions ALG Spor to set up a Final against Fenerbahce where, after a 90+8 minute equaliser, Ankara secured their first title in extra time winning 4-2.
Glasgow City have never faced Turkish opposition in our history.
Cardiff City FC (WAL)
Cardiff City won their second Adran Premier in the 2022/23 season and won it by going unbeaten with a 100% record at home.
The Bluebirds have played in Europe once before in the 2013/14 season but failed to score a goal in their three qualifying group matches.
Glasgow City have never faced Welsh opposition in the UWCL.
Cliftonville (NIR)
Cliftonville make their UEFA Women’s Champions League debut this season following their first ever Women’s Premiership last year.
From Belfast, Cliftonville’s previous best league finish had been runners-up including the season before the finally claimed their first title.
Glasgow City have faced Northern Irish opposition twice in our history with an 8-0 victory over Crusaders back in 2008 before and a 1-0 win over Glentoran six years later.