BK HĂ€cken leads Hammarby by one goal in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Europa Cup final. The all-Swedish matchup will conclude on May 1st at Hisingen Arena in Gothenburg.
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Europa Cup: Felicia Schröder on significance of all-Swedish final between BK HÀcken and Hammarby
Felicia Schröderâs goal is the only thing that separates Swedish powerhouses BK HĂ€cken and Hammarby heading into the second leg of the first ever UEFA Womenâs Europa Cup final.
BK HĂ€cken hold a slim advantage as the two Damallsvenskan sides prepare to meet again at the Hisingen Arena in Gothenburg. The clash on May 1st will decide who will be crowned the inaugural champions of the UWEC.
BK HĂ€cken beat the likes of Inter Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the final. Meanwhile, rivals Hammarby saw off Ajax, Brann, Sporting CP and Sparta Praha to reach the final.
HĂ€cken and Hammarby are two heavyweight sides in the Swedish womenâs game and Schröder has stressed the importance of this mouthwatering showdown in Europe.
âIt shows how high Swedish teams can go, itâs important for Sweden. The fact that HĂ€cken and Hammarby are both in a European cup final, thatâs huge,â the 19-year-old told the media ahead of Fridayâs second leg.
âThere are so many Swedish players who have gone to other European teams like Liverpool, Tottenham and many others. So yeah, itâs so important for Sweden and this league that we are both in the final.â
Thereâs no hiding from the fact that competing in European tournaments at just 19 years of age is a huge learning opportunity for one of Europeâs brightest rising stars.
The all-Swedish final highlights the growing competitiveness of women's football in Sweden, showcasing two top teams, BK HĂ€cken and Hammarby.
The second leg of the final is scheduled for May 1st at Hisingen Arena in Gothenburg.
BK HĂ€cken defeated teams like Inter Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt, while Hammarby overcame Ajax, Brann, Sporting CP, and Sparta Praha.
BK HĂ€cken currently leads Hammarby by one goal after the first leg of the final.
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âItâs a big tournament, with big, big players. You learn so much against them.â Schröder admitted.
Australian legend Aivi Luik is a key figure in the HĂ€cken dressing room. The 41-year-old recently broke the record previously set by Formiga during the 2017 UEFA Womenâs Champions League final as the oldest woman to ever play in a European cup final.
âHonestly, itâs really important [having Luik in the team]. I would say she knows everything â on the pitch, how to fix situations when itâs perhaps not working,â Schröder said. âShe sees spaces on the pitch no one else can see. Her defensive ability is incredible.
âIâm looking up to her everyday, she really is a role model to me.â
Luik has won silverware in three different countries at club level and she also lifted the Asian Cup in 2010 with the Australian national team.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA â JULY 18: Aivi Luik poses during a Matildas training session ahead of the FIFA Womenâs World Cup Australia & New Zealand in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
With Hammarby and BK HĂ€cken both being from the Damallsvenskan, itâs both a blessing and a curse that the finalists know each other so well. Both teams will have an intimate knowledge of how their opponents prepare for fixtures, the teams they are likely to field, and their apparent weaknesses.
âI would say itâs an advantage,â Schröder said of knowing Hammarby well. âI think we know them so well. They also know us and our strategies on the pitch. Weâre playing them five times this year, itâs going to be fun. Weâre rivals, thatâs always fun, itâs going to be an intense game I think.â
HĂ€cken head coach Elena Sadiku was keen to stress the importance of the first leg victory to the media.
âThe first part is done, now we have the second part left. There are still 90 minutes left in the tie. We created a decent number of chances and could have scored more goals. Itâs up to the analysis to see what needs to be improved. You canât count Hammarby out.â
Since making her Swedish international debut at 18 years of age against Italy in 2025, Schröder has gone from strength to strength. The striker finished the 2025 season as the Damallsvenskan top goal scorer, with 30 goals in total. She also reached her first European final during that campaign.
In 2026, the teen has already scored 13 goals across all competitions and is on target to exceed her numbers from the previous year.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN â NOVEMBER 12: Supporters of BK Hacken with scarves during a UEFA Womenâs Europa Cup 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between BK Hacken and FC Internazionale Milano on November 12, 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
âItâs an incredible feeling [to score a goal], I actually canât describe it, Itâs so amazing,â Schröder said. âJust to be happy and celebrate as a team. We achieve it all together, itâs a team sport. Of course Iâve scored many goals but itâs the team behind it, the actions before the goal. Itâs an incredible feeling, I wish I could describe it.â
The UEFA Womenâs Europa Cup final second leg will be played on May 1st at the Hisingen Arena in Gothenburg. You can buy tickets for the fixture here.
You can watch the full match on the UEFA YouTube account. The match will kick-off at 16:00 CET.