The UEFA Women’s Champions League is back. With four new teams and the return of others, it looks to be another exciting season of upsets and triumphs. With the group stages underway this week, here is a small selection of players to look out for.
Olivia Clark, FC Twente
Olivia Clark’s move from relegated English side Bristol City to FC Twente in the summer was a well-earned move. The Welsh number one earned a move away from England to a new challenge in the Netherlands.
Clark conceded just one goal in Twente’s qualification rounds. In a group consisting of Chelsea, Celtic and Real Madrid, a good shot-stopper will be essential to keeping Twente in games. Whilst this competition is far harder than the qualification rounds, it is a good omen. A good defence and not conceding wins you tournament football.
Clark is calm in coming out of the goal to sees the ball away from danger when under immense presurre. The shot-stopper collects entries into the box with confidence to see chances broken down almost immediately. Clark is also a great collector of the ball, with impressive vision as to where shots are coming in, and collects them well with a strong hold. With a good goalkeeper and the aim to frustrate both Chelsea and Real Madrid, Clark is one to watch in between the sticks.
Alice Carlsson, Hammarby
Alice Carlsson is one of the most underrated defenders in the game. The Bajen captain has held down the backline for the Swedish side in successive campaigns, acting as the main defensive hand in seeing them qualify for their first Champions League group stage appearance.
Above all things, Carlsson is a level-headed centre back. In Hammarby’s style, she builds up the base of the defence before playing out wide to the fullbacks. In the qualifiers against Benfica, she was key in breaking down and blocking their advances on goal. Keeping the ball away for your box is obviously a good way to keep goals out, and Carlsson’s style and stance as a centre-back pulls the backline together.
Likewise, the 29 year old thrives when she is tight marking an opposition. She nullifies the strikers by subtracting their ability for space and movement. The vision of the Scandinavian mindset, Carlsson is calm and cool and solid at the back. Her protection of the side’s own half is a standout component and will be key against big strikers in the competition.
Tuva Hansen, Bayern München
By all standards and definition, it could be seen as unfair to include a player from a giant European team like Bayern München. But in a team like that, someone must be underrated-and Tuva Hansen is very much that.
Hansen is a wiry defender who uses space to her advantage. Both as a centre-back and a full back, she looks to use and operate the space to build-up play from the back, as well as add an anchor to the defensive line. Often unspotted, she pops up to use her strengths to both add to the team and push them forward.
Her ability to switch between centre-back and fullback, especially alongside Caro Simon, means she is unpredictable and constant, delivering in both the final third and the defensive half. Even when pushing up to create Bayern’s high line, Hansen is self assured and confident to deliver for the side and create meaningful passes in and around the midfield, to push towards goal.
Smilla Vallotto, Hammarby
Smilla Vallotto is part of an exciting and young group for both Hammarby, and her national team in Switzerland. The wing-back turned attacking midfielder has battled through injuries and a changing style this season, and looks ready to make an impact in the group stages. Like her multiple nationalities, Vallotto works well under a multitude of styles and partnerships in the Bajen midfield.
Vallotto’s creativity is something that can’t be undermined. As a youthful player, she is confident and stylish in her play, building up towards the goal with a fluidity that comes as second nature. She works with an astute understanding of what is expected of her. She plays well with the other forwards, putting balls into the box for them to capitalise on. Vallotto pulls in and out so space with a confidence of building towards the goal. She plays exceptionally well in the Hammarby’s style and adds an air of cheeky, youthful fun in the side.
Saoirse Noonan, Celtic
Competitive levels between the Scottish Women’s Premier League and the Champion’s League are vastly different, something that cannot go unmentioned. But Celtic’s Saoirse Noonan is a forward with a taste for goals.
Noonan is a forward with a range of ways to score. A header and two shots on foot sealed her hat-trick in the qualifying rounds, whilst she’s also cool from the penalty spot. Noonan is technical and adventurous; confident in every step and move she takes on the pitch. She works well in limited space and time to convert chances to goals.
Away from scoring her own, she has an eye for assists and creative passes. Assists over head to cut out defenders with ease and create the opportunities without the place for interception. She combines well with her teammates and delivers across the pitch. She pulls back to help build-up play and could be vital in what is set to be a difficult group stages for Celtic.
Elena Sadiku, Celtic
So this might be cheating but every team needs a manager, right?
Elena Sadiku has been the talk of the Champions League thus far. The youngest female coach to lead a team into the group stages, Sadiku’s path from early retirement to the coach with all the eyes on her is something to write home about.
Sadiku’s Celtic side are hungry. The comeback against Rangers in the Old Firm Derby recently, from 2-0 down to finish 2-2, was a gauntlet as the Champions League came into view. They sit fourth on the league the table, with a game in hand over those above them after just 8 games.
Resilient in offence and attack, Sadiku is building a side with clear identity and style. The use of the wings to build play will be an interest test against the wide players they will face in the group stages.
The Swede is making a name for herself and her side in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, and as a hard group stage awaits, it is safe to say that there is a distinct hunger within this Scottish side, and Sadiku is at the heart of it all.
