The Women’s Champions League is back. The battle for a place in the semi-finals begins this evening with Bayern Munich’s clash against Paris Saint Germain, and a hotly-anticipated match between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Juventus will then play Lyon tomorrow, followed by a mouthwatering tie between Arsenal and Wolfsburg.
With the best in women’s football set to take to the pitch, GiveMeSport Women picks five players to watch across the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto, PSG
Marie-Antoinette Katoto has been quietly going about her business in the Division 1 Féminine, and now boasts statistics that put her up with the best strikers in the world.
She has scored 112 goals in 114 matches for PSG, becoming the team’s all-time top goalscorer in February.
The 23-year-old has hit the back of the net three times in the Champions League so far this season, and will be looking to score again this evening to help her team get past Bayern Munich.
Ada Hegerberg, Lyon
Ada Hegerberg, the Ballon d’Or winner in 2018, was forced to sit on the sidelines for 20 months after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in January 2020.
She made an emotional return to the pitch in October, coming on as a substitute during Lyon’s Champions League group match against Hacken.
It was symbolic that Hegerberg made her return during the Champions League – she is the all-time top goalscorer in the competition with 56 goals.
The 26-year-old has already returned to her goalscoring ways, and she could well be on the scoresheet again as Lyon take on Juventus.
Lena Oberdorf, Wolfsburg
Lena Oberdorf is one of the most exciting young talents in women’s football. The 20-year-old was named Goal’s inaugural women’s NxGn winner in 2020, and she has lived up to expectations since.
Oberdorf normally plays as a defensive midfielder, but she has also created goals for her team in the Champions League this season.
In fact, the star has racked up three assists in the competition this year. She is in good company, with PSG’s Sara Däbritz, Arsenal’s Beth Mead and Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfö achieving the same number of assists.
Rafaelle Souza, Arsenal
Rafaelle joined Arsenal in January and has already formed a reliable partnership with Leah Williamson at the heart of the team’s defence.
If the Gunners are to overcome Wolfsburg and subdue the side’s attacking talents, they will have to remain solid at the back. Rafaelle, and her partnership with Williamson, will be key to this.
Alexia Putellas, Barcelona
It would be silly not to include the world’s best player in this list, particularly because she is likely to play a key role if Barcelona are to get past rivals Real Madrid.
The Ballon d’Or winner has scored five goals in the Champions League and racked up two assists so far this season. She is the standout player in a Barcelona team full of stars, and will be desperate to help her side advance their title defence.
