Holders Arsenal had to settle for a place in the Champions League knockout play-offs despite securing an impressive victory over Leuven in Belgium.
The Gunners, who beat Barcelona 1-0 in last season’s final to become European champions, needed three points to have any chance of finishing in the top-four places and moving straight into the quarter-finals.
However, despite goals from Olivia Smith and Beth Mead and an own goal from Saar Janssen helping them to a convincing win, they came fifth in the league phase, one point behind fourth-placed Bayern Munich.
That means Renee Slegers side will now have a two-legged play-off in February against opponents to be determined in the draw at 12:00 GMT on Thursday.
Arsenal will either face Spanish side Atletico Madrid or have an instant rematch against Leuven, who finished 12th in the league phase.
In Belgium, the Gunners were by far the better side and Alessia Russo had seen two headers saved before Smith scored her first Champions League goal in the 18th minute.
Smith played a one-two with Mariona Caldentey and surged into the Leuven penalty area with home goalkeeper Lowiese Seynhaeve saving Smith’s first effort, only to then be beaten by her follow-up shot.
Mead added a second nine minutes later. She collected a ball from Russo on the right side of the penalty area and cut inside on to her left foot and fired past Seynhaeve.
Arsenal’s third came in the 67th minute when Janssen steered Caitlin Foord’s low cross into her own net.
It was Leuven’s second defeat of the league phase after being beaten 3-0 by Barcelona, but Valerenga’s loss to Bayern Munich meant the Belgians scraped into the knockout play-offs.
