5 players to watch out for in Women's Champions League quarter-finals | OneFootball

The UEFA Women's Champions league returns this week as the quarter-final get underway.

There are some blockbuster fixtures lined up, including an all-English affair involving Chelsea and Manchester City. Elsewhere, Arsenal are set to take on Real Madrid, while two-time winners and four-time runners-up Wolfsburg have the task of overcoming current holders Barcelona.

Bayern Munich will also take on eight-time winners Lyon, with a spot in the semi-finals on the line. This season's final will take place on 24 May at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal.

As Europe's most prestigious club competition, the Champions League is an opportunity for some of the world's best players to showcase their talent. Performances on this stage often underpin Ballon d'Or winning seasons, most notably for Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas in the last four years.

Ewa Pajor joined Barcelona last summer / Angel Martinez/GettyImages

As if Barcelona didn't already boast some of the world's best players, they signed Polish forward Ewa Pajor from Wolfsburg last summer. Now, the 28-year-old will take on her former club as Liga F's top goalscorer so far this season.

Pajor has 17 goals to her name, as well as six assists. Her goals have helped Barcelona secure a five-point lead at the top of the Spanish league table with 21 games played.

The forward has scored five goals in Barcelona's Champions League campaign so far as they topped group D ahead of Manchester City. Pajor may be just one of numerous goal threats for the team, but she is arguably their most threatening.

Lauren James (Chelsea)

Lauren James has stepped up in crucial moments for Chelsea this season / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Chelsea face a unique situation as their double-header against City in the Champions League is two of four games against the same opposition in 12 days. They have already faced each other in the League Cup final, which they won, and will also contest a WSL meeting at the weekend.

Sonia Bompastor is building one of the most exciting teams in England and the January signings of Naomi Girma and Keira Walsh have only catapulted an already very strong team to a whole new level. However, it is Lauren James who has been a standout performer once more.

The 23-year-old has scored the winning or equalising goal in three times in recent weeks across all competitions. She is a player capable of rising to the occasion and producing decisive moments, which will no doubt be crucial in a tie where so much is on the line.

Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)

Olga Carmona is captain of both her club and country / Diego Souto/GettyImages

Heading back to Liga F, Rea Madrid's Olga Carmona remains a key figure for both club and country as captain of both sides. Following her World Cup heroics in 2023, she has become one of the most recognisable players in women's football.

This season, the defender has scored four goals and registered four assists across all competitions, helping Real Madrid cement second place behind Barcelona in Spain's domestic standings. They also finished second in their group behind Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds.

Her leadership will be crucial if the club are to navigate a tricky tie against Arsenal. Chelsea only beat Real Madrid by one goal in both of their group stage matches earlier in the season, so they will be confident they can cause Renee Slegers' side plenty of problems.

Lineth Beerensteyn (Wolfsburg)

Lineth Beerensteyn joined Wolfsburg last summer / Inaki Esnaola/GettyImages

Wolfsburg's task of overcoming Barcelona couldn't be more difficult, but it helps that they boast one of the Frauen-Bundesliga's most prolific goal scorers this season. Dutch forward Lineth Beerensteyn is enjoying a fantastic debut campaign, having joined from Juventus as a free agent last summer.

She is currently the leading scorer in Germany with 13 goals in 16 games.

Having lost Pajor to Barcelona last year, it was crucial that someone stepped up to fill the void in the Wolfsburg squad. It is fair to say that Beerensteyn has done exactly that and is registering similar numbers this season.

Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)

Lyon's Melchie Dumornay / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

Lyon's clash with Bayern Munich is another huge tie between two European heavyweights. Lyon have dropped only two points in France's Premiere Ligue this season, winning 16 and drawing once.

Haiti international Melchie Dumornay has been on everyone's radar since the World Cup in 2023 and the 21-year-old continues to impress at club level. She is currently the second highest goal scorer in the French league this season with 14 to her name, just one behind Paris FC's Clara Mateo.

Much like the other top European teams, Lyon have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal. That being said, Dumornay has been their most prolific in the league and it is crucial she carries that form into their Champions League campaign.