Unseeded Bristol Academy were the first of the pair to be drawn out of the bowl by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, only to be made to wait just a little longer as Arsenal were initially pulled out for the tie. The competition rules, however, prevent two clubs from the same country facing each other in the round of 32, meaning that Arsenal were placed into the next bracket.
Soon, though, there was to be an opponent picked for the West Country side, qualifiers for the competition after finishing runners up to Arsenal in the 2011 Women's FA Cup final, and it was to produce a daunting trip for the continental first timers. FC Energiya Voronezh, second place finishers in the 2010 Russian Premier League, were the seeded rivals drawn to face Academy, a trip of just under 1,800 miles for the vixens to face.
Having been shunted straight into the next fixture Arsenal were drawn alongside opponents from Belarus by the name of FC Bobruchanka. Based in the Belarussian town of Babruysk Bobruchanka were champions of their domestic Premier League in 2010, thus entering the Champions League at the qualifying stage where they travelled to Croatia for their round robin group. The team finished second in that group, beating Northern Ireland's Newtownabbey and NSA Sofia of Bulgaria and losing to eventual winners Osijek, but were one of two runners up to take a place in the next stage.
The other side to make it into the first knockout phase via the runners up spot were Peamount United of Ireland, coming second behind Spaniards Rayo Vallecano. It will be their debut in the first round proper and they will be taking a Parisian trip as they face PSG who placed second in the Division 1 Féminine earlier this year.
The champions from the north of the border in 2010 were the all-conquering Glasgow City, winners of the last four Scottish Premier League crowns and currently top this term. Making their debut outside of the qualifiers City will face two legs against a team with similar domestic dominance, Valur Reykjavik of Iceland, 10 times champions of their country and 13 time cup winners.
In the other ties holders Lyon will play Olimpia Cluj of Romania while finalists from the 2010/11 competition Turbine Potsdam will face off with Thór/KA of Iceland. 1. FFC Frankfurt, the most successful club in the tournaments history, were drawn against Norwegian side Stabæk.
If Bristol Academy get past Energiya they could play either FC Twente or Rossiyanka while Arsenal would be paired with the winner of Vantaa and Rayo Vallecano in the next stage.
First legs will be played on the 28th/29th of September with the second legs a week later on the 5th/6th of October. Round of 16 ties will be played over the first two weeks of November.
The full draws are as follows:
Round of 32
CFF Olimpia Cluj (ROU) v Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
Peamount United (IRL) v Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
CSHVSM (KAZ) v SV Neulengbach (AUT)
Apollon Limassol LFC (CYP) v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
PK-35 Vantaa (FIN) v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (ESP)
UPC Tavagnacco (ITA) v WFC Malmö (SWE)
WFC Osijek (CRO) v Göteborg FC (SWE)
Glasgow City FC (SCO) v Valur Reykjavík (ISL)
BSC Young Boys (SUI) v Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)
Thór/KA (ISL) v 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER)
ASA Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) v ASD Torres CF (ITA)
FC Twente (NED) v FC Rossiyanka (RUS)
Bristol Academy WFC (ENG) v FC Energiya Voronezh (RUS)
FC Bobruchanka (BLR) v Arsenal LFC (ENG)
Standard Fémina de Liège (BEL) v Brøndby IF (DEN)
Stabæk Football (NOR) v 1. FFC Frankfurt (GER)
Round of 16
Stabæk/Frankfurt v Peamount/PSG
Olimpia Cluj/Lyon v Apollon/Sparta
CSHVSM/Neulengbach v Tavagnacco/Malmö
Young Boys/Fortuna v Osijek/Göteborg
Bristol/Energiya v Twente/Rossiyanka
Vantaa/Rayo v Bobruchanka/Arsenal
Thór/Potsdam v Glasgow/Valur
Standard/Brøndby v Tel-Aviv/Torres
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