"Debutants. Underdogs. Minnows. Having never reached the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) before, Belgian side OH Leuven were given every label imaginable and written off before a ball was even kicked. They arrived with humble expectations, but not even those inside the club dared to dream of a fairytale run that ultimately saw them seal the final spot in the knockout-phase playoffs as the 12th-best team in Europe."
"But if you see that you can get these moments instead, then it makes it more beautiful. They always said that we're not a team for taking trophies and that we're made for second place. So if you know that all the things were said in the past and that you're now doing this, I think we can only be proud of that as a team."
OH Leuven reached the UWCL knockout-phase playoffs as the 12th-best team in Europe despite entering the competition as debutants and heavy underdogs. A 3-0 defeat to Arsenal combined with Valerenga's loss to Bayern Munich confirmed Leuven's advancement, prompting emphatic celebrations. Club CEO Frédéric van den Steen characterized the achievement as a David-and-Goliath fairytale. Midfielder and defender Zenia Mertens described the journey as difficult and emotional, saying the moments of success make the struggles more beautiful. Leuven had finished runners-up repeatedly to Anderlecht between 2020 and 2023 before winning the 2024-25 domestic title and earning UWCL qualification.
Read at ESPN.com
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