Birkirkara to face Bosnia’s Sarajevo in UEFA Women’s Champions League

Birkirkara women’s team were drawn in Group 7 of the 2022/2023 UEFA Women’s Champions first qualifying round following the draws held in Nyon, at the UEFA’s headquarters.

The Maltese champions will be playing in Round 1 which is the first of two rounds before the 16-team group stage, which begins in October.

Having won the Maltese title last season, Birkirkara will be involved in the champions path which consists of two stages – a semi-final (August 18) and a final/third-place play-off (August 21).

Birkirkara will face Bosnia-Herzegovina champions SFK 2000 Sarajevo in the semi-final while their opponents in the following game will be either Olimpija Cluj of Romania or Glentoran of Northern Ireland.

The winners of each final will progress to round 2. The final of the 2022/2023 edition will be held in Eindhoven, at the PSV Stadion on either June 3 or June 4.

In the previous edition, Birkirkara lost to Glasgow City of Scotland and Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava at this stage of the competition.

The Stripes will be representing Malta in this competition under the new guidance of coach Jose Borg after Melania Bajada parted ways with the club whom she guided for the past five seasons.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara’s competitors in the Maltese league continue to strengthen their squads ahead of the new campaign.

Swieqi United, who finished second last season, have confirmed defender Andy Zammit Mizzi. The 23-year-old joined The Owls during the 2020/2021 season after a spell at Raiders Luxol.

On the other hand, Mġarr United have secured the services of 22-year-old midfielder Kathryn Ellul who last season was on the books of Kirkop United.

Another Kirkop player who will be joining a new club is Sarah Urpani who has committed to Hibernians women’s team.