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AAP
AAP
Sport
Ian Chadband

Matildas on course for Women's Champions League clash

Five of Australia's top players are on course for a Women's Champions League blockbuster quarter-final with Sam Kerr's Chelsea in line to face Steph Catley's champions Arsenal.

Thursday's draw in Nyon, Switzerland has thrown up the prospect of the London derby in the last-eight in March -- but, first, Arsenal must continue their defence by disposing of Belgian side OH Leuven in the knockout playoffs round.

It looks a straightforward task for the holders Arsenal, who beat Leuven 3-0 in the group stages in Belgium on Wednesday, with their three Matildas -- Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross -- all featuring.

It ensured the Gunners finished fifth in the inaugural 18-team standings format, which was enough to earn them a quick playoff rematch with Leuven, who have sneaked in as the 12th and final qualifiers. 

The first leg will be in Belgium on February 11 or 12, with the return a week later at the Emirates Stadium, and the aggregate winners will meet English champions Chelsea in the first leg of the quarters on March 24 or 25.

Chelsea booked their place straight through to the quarters as one of the top-four qualifiers, thanks to rejuvenated Kerr scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory at Wolfsburg. 

The 32-year-old became the first Australian to notch 20 Champions League goals with her quality header in Germany on Wednesday in a performance that again suggested she's getting back to her best after her long injury layoff.

With former Champions League winner Ellie Carpenter also on song, that could mean a quintet of Matildas featuring in the tie between Arsenal, who are third in the Women's Super League, and Chelsea, who are currently second as they seek to lift a seventh-straight title.  

An all-Spanish quarter-final path has also been set up with three-time champions Barcelona drawn to face the winners of the two-leg playoff between Real Madrid and Paris FC.

Carpenter's old side, eight-time European champions OL Lyonnes, who also have another Matilda Teagan Micah as their back-up keeper, will await in the quarters the winners of the playoff between Wolfsburg and Juventus.

Manchester United meet Atletico Madrid in the playoffs, with the winners to face Bayern Munich in the last-eight. The tournament final will be staged on the Norwegian capital of Oslo on May 23.

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