A method of making an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, the absorbent structure comprising: a supporting sheet and an absorbent layer supported thereon, said absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material that contains at least a superabsorbent polymer material and optionally a cellulosic material; said absorbent structure and absorbent layer having a longitudinal dimension and average length, a transverse dimension and average width, a height, and front, back and crotch regions arranged sequentially in said longitudinal dimension, said absorbent layer also having a longitudinal axis and perpendicular thereto a transverse axis; said absorbent layer having a first longitudinally extending side portion on one side of said longitudinal axis, and a second longitudinally extending side portion on the other side of said longitudinal axis; whereby said absorbent layer has at least a first substantially longitudinally extending channel present in said first side portion, and a second substantially longitudinally extending channel present in said second side portion, said channels being substantially free of said superabsorbent polymer material, and extending through said height of said absorbent layer, wherein each of said channels extends longitudinally, whereby each of said channels extends at least twice as much in the longitudinal direction than it does in the transverse direction; and whereby said absorbent structure comprises one or more adhesive materials (40, 60) to at least partially immobilize said absorbent layer onto said supporting sheet, wherein the method comprises: placing said supporting sheet onto raised portions with a shape and dimensions corresponding to said first and second channels, such that said supporting sheet is provided with raised portions and remaining portions; and depositing said absorbent material onto said supporting sheet, wherein said absorbent material does not remain on the raised portions of the supporting sheet, but remains only on the remaining portions of the supporting sheet. a supporting sheet and an absorbent layer supported thereon, said absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material that contains at least a superabsorbent polymer material and optionally a cellulosic material; said absorbent structure and absorbent layer having a longitudinal dimension and average length, a transverse dimension and average width, a height, and front, back and crotch regions arranged sequentially in said longitudinal dimension, said absorbent layer also having a longitudinal axis and perpendicular thereto a transverse axis; said absorbent layer having a first longitudinally extending side portion on one side of said longitudinal axis, and a second longitudinally extending side portion on the other side of said longitudinal axis; whereby said absorbent layer has at least a first substantially longitudinally extending channel present in said first side portion, and a second substantially longitudinally extending channel present in said second side portion, said channels being substantially free of said superabsorbent polymer material, and extending through said height of said absorbent layer, wherein each of said channels extends longitudinally, whereby each of said channels extends at least twice as much in the longitudinal direction than it does in the transverse direction; and whereby said absorbent structure comprises one or more adhesive materials (40, 60) to at least partially immobilize said absorbent layer onto said supporting sheet, wherein the method comprises: placing said supporting sheet onto raised portions with a shape and dimensions corresponding to said first and second channels, such that said supporting sheet is provided with raised portions and remaining portions; and depositing said absorbent material onto said supporting sheet, wherein said absorbent material does not remain on the raised portions of the supporting sheet, but remains only on the remaining portions of the supporting sheet. placing said supporting sheet onto raised portions with a shape and dimensions corresponding to said first and second channels, such that said supporting sheet is provided with raised portions and remaining portions; and depositing said absorbent material onto said supporting sheet, wherein said absorbent material does not remain on the raised portions of the supporting sheet, but remains only on the remaining portions of the supporting sheet.