The Women's Champions League is back, with the best players in the world competing for the biggest prize in club football.
Defending champions Barcelona have lost star power over the summer but they remain in pole position to secure a fifth title. Their supremacy will be challenged by French giants OL Lyonnes, who have strengthened significantly in the transfer window and will be keen to avenge their loss in last year's final.
The trio of English clubs -- Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City -- are also firmly among the favourites for the competition.
As we gear up for another season of drama in Europe, let's answer the big question ...
Is there VAR in the UWCL?
Yes, VAR will in use in the Women's Champions League from the start of the League Phase.
Was it there in previous years?
Yes. However, last season was the first time it was in use for the entire duration of the competition.
VAR was introduced for the first time in the 2020 final between OL Lyonnes and Wolfsburg. It was again used exclusively for the 2021 final the following season, before being implemented from the quarterfinals onwards from 2021-22.
And is goal-line technology in use?
it will be in place from the quarterfinals onwards.
Were there been any major VAR incidents last season?
Where there is VAR, there is controversy. So of course, we've had some divisive decisions this year too.
Arsenal's quarterfinal against Chelsea was marked by two controversial VAR incidents. In the first leg, Chelsea's Veerle Buurman had a goal disallowed when the score was 2-0 after the slightest of contacts on Laia Codina was deemed a foul.
"For sure the first goal is a goal," Sonia Bompastor told a news conference after the game. "I don't see with the VAR how you cannot allow that goal. That's a shame, to be honest."
Bompastor's ire grew in the second leg after Arsenal defender Katie McCabe wasn't shown a red card for a blantant hair-pull on Alyssa Thompson. The Chelsea manager was sent off for her protestations, and carried her phone into her post-game interview to highlight the foul.
In Round 2 of the League Phase, Manchester United defender Dominique Janssen saw VAR upgrade her yellow card to a red after a tackle on Atletico Madrid's Gio Garbelini.
"I think the first decision of the referee giving a yellow card, in my opinion, was the correct one," former England international Fara Williams said on the Disney+ broadcast. "You can slow tackles down, and the more you slow a tackle down, the worse they look.
"I feel like VAR have reacted more on the damage and the outcome of the opponent as opposed to actually the contact of the player's tackle.
"I think VAR on this occasion got that one wrong."
The red card didn't ultimately hurt United, with Marc Skinner's side holding on to win 1-0. The same can't be said for the clash between Bayern Munich and Juventus in the League Phase.
The game was level at 1-1 going into added time, when Lea Schüller's effort was cleared off the line in the 95th minute. The referee deemed it wasn't a goal but was called to the camera to review the decision.
The replays were inconclusive over whether the ball had crossed the line, and after a lengthy VAR check the goal was awarded to give Bayern a 2-1 win.
- Women's Champions League on Disney+: Schedule, format, more
- Arsenal in Women's Champions League: Results, news, highlights
- Man City in Women's Champions League: Results, news, highlights
As it turned out, the three points separated the two teams in the final league standings. Bayern finished fourth to directly enter the quarterfinals while Juventus had to settle for the playoff round, where they were eventually knocked out by Wolfsburg.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Canzi said even if you watched the incident 20 times, you wouldn't be able to decide if it was in or out.
"We lost a point, which for us was life," he said in an interview to Disney+.
