Ajax’s women’s football team will meet Chelsea in the quarter-finals of this year’s Champions League competition with the first leg on March 19 or 20 and the return a week later.

Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also possible opponents for the Amsterdam side, who became the first Dutch women’s team to qualify for the tournament last year.

Coach Suzanne Bakker said it was a “fantastic” opportunity to gather public attention. “It is a great club with big names and we are going to make it as difficult for them as possible,” she said.

If the Dutch side beat Chelsea they will meet the winner of the quarter-final between title holder Barcelona and Norwegian side Brann in the semis.

Ajax reached the quarter finals with three wins, one draw and two losses in the group stage, finishing second behind Paris Saint-Germain.