Quarter-finalists in profile
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Article summary
The UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final lineup is complete, with the path to the Berlin final laid out; UEFA.com introduces the eight teams in contention.
Article top media content
Article body
The UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final lineup is complete; meet the sides who are battling to reach the Berlin final.
Quarter-final draw (21/22 & 28/29 March)
1. FFC Frankfurt (GER) v Bristol Academy WFC (ENG)
VfL Wolfsburg (GER, holders) v FC Rosengård (SWE)
Glasgow City FC (SCO) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Linköpings FC (SWE) v Brøndby IF (DEN)
Semi-final draw (18/19 & 25/26 April)
Wolfsburg/Rosengård v Glasgow/Paris
Frankfurt/Bristol v Linköpings/Brøndby
Final (Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin): 18.00CET, 14 May
Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1
1. FFC Frankfurt (GER)
Best performance: winners 2002, 2006, 2008
Quarter-final record: W6 L2
Top scorer: Célia Šašić 6
The sole three-time winners are back after a two-year absence and chasing a fourth title. A 9-0 elimination of quarter-final regulars ASD Torres Femminile Sassari in the last 16 was proof of their strength, Célia Šašić getting two goals in both legs.
This summer established names like Kerstin Garefrekes, Kim Kulig, Simome Laudehr, Dzsenifer Marozsán and Šašić were joined by Wales midfielder Jessica Fishlock (formerly of both Bristol and Glasgow) and Spain forward Verónica Boquete after Wolfsburg pipped them to the German championship on the final day.
Bristol Academy WFC (ENG)
Best performance: first quarter-final
Top scorers: Natasha Harding, Natalia, Nikki Watts 2
England, like Germany and Sweden, have never failed to have a quarter-finalist but Bristol, seventh in the eight-team FA WSL this year, are not one of the league's most fashionable club. Nevertheless, they eliminated 2013/14 quarter-finalists FC Barcelona in the last 16, winning 1-0 at Mini Estadi then drawing 1-1 at home thanks to a late Nikki Watts penalty.
That was a gutsy display against a talented Barcelona team but the side built by Mark Sampson and, after he became England manager this year, maintained by Dave Edmonson, are used to upsetting the odds. There is a strong Welsh core to the team in Loren Dykes, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, not to mention Spanish talent in Natalia and Laura del Río.
VfL Wolfsburg (GER, holders)
Best performance: winners 2013, 2014
Quarter-final record: W2 L0
Top scorer: 6 players on 2 goals
After 22 European matches, Wolfsburg are yet to lose as they seek an unprecedented third straight title to equal Frankfurt's overall record. Norway's Stabæk Fotball gave the a stern test in the round of 32 but in the last 16 SV Neulengbach, quarter-finalists last season, were blown away 11-0 on aggregate.
Most of Ralf Kellermann's squad are familiar from their one or both of their previous triumphs, Almuth Schult in goal, Nilla Fischer in defence, Lena Goessling and the currently injured Nadine Kessler in midfield and evergreen Martina Müller and Alexandra Popp up front. Joining them this season have been Germany defender Babett Peter (from Frankfurt), Vanessa Bernauer and Isabel Kerschowski in midfield and prodigious Norway forward Caroline Graham Hansen.
The squad already contained stars like Swiss playmaker Ramona Bachmann, 200-cap Sweden midfielder Therese Sjögran and Germany forward Anja Mittag, who is within three goals of Conny Pohlers's competition record of 45. Then in the summer they added Brazil striker Marta, who helped Tyresö FF to the final last season.
Glasgow City FC (SCO)
Best performance: first quarter-final
Top scorer: Joanne Love 2
Scotland's first quarter-finalists did it the hard way, scoring twice in the last nine minutes of a thrilling tie against FC Zürich Frauen to ensure Glasgow would be the only qualifying round survivors in the draw. In the round of 32 they overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to KKPK Medyk Konin, winning in extra time at their European home, the Excelsior Stadium.
The team that comfortably clinched a ninth straight Scottish title and completed the treble at the weekend by beating Spartans LFC 5-0 in the Scottish Women's Cup final are naturally made up of domestic talent like Joanne Love – whose brilliant goal turned the tide against Zürich – Eilish McSorley and Leanne Ross. Added to that they have Republic of Ireland striker, Denise O'Sullivan, giving flair to a well-organised side though goalkeeper Lee Alexander broke a collarbone against Zürich and faces a race against time to be fit for the quarter-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Best performance: first quarter-final
Top scorer: Fatmire Alushi 2
Their time in the shadow of Olympique Lyonnais came to an end in the last 16 when Fatmire Alushi scored ten minutes from the end at Stade de Gerland to allow Paris to eliminate the two-time champions. Unlucky to come up against Tyresö on their European return last season, Paris overcame a stubborn FC Twente in the round of 32 this time.
Like their men's side, Paris are a cosmopolitan and high-profile selection, Germany forward Alushi joined by compatriots Annike Krahn, Josephine Henning and Linde Bresonik. Add in Sweden duo Caroline Seger and Kosovare Asllani, American Lindsey Horan plus Shirley Cruz Traña, Sara Gama, Marie-Laure Delie and Laura Georges, and this is a team packed with proven class who are chasing Lyon hard in the league too.
Linköpings FC (SWE)
Best performance: quarter-finals 2011
Quarter-final record: W0 L1
Top scorer: Fridolina Rolfö 4
Taking over the place of 2014 runners-up Tyresö after their demise, Linköping opened with a 2-1 away loss at Liverpool LFC but they won the second leg 3-0 with a hat-trick from European debutant Fridolina Rolfö. A 5-0 home win was the key to knocking out WFC Zvezda 2005 in the last 16 as they then lost 3-0 in Russia.
Rolfö has been the revelation, but there is plenty of ability with Charlotte Rohlin in defence, Mariann Knudsen in midfield, Kristine Minde on the wing and Pernille Harder up front. However, Finland forward Linda Sällström has left the club who finished fourth in the 2014 Damallsvenskan.
Brøndby IF (DEN)
Best performance: semi-finals 2004, 2007
Quarter-final record: W2 L4
Top scorer: Emma Madsen3
Only Frankfurt, Arsenal LFC and Umeå IK have reached more quarter-finals than the Danish competition stalwarts, who only missed the first two seasons of this tournament and have been ever present since 2003/04. Apollon LFC nearly inflicted a third straight round of 32 defeat on Brøndby but two extra-time goals saved them and the last 16 against Gintra Universitetas was more straightforward despite a second-leg loss.
Familiar Denmark players like Theresa Nielsen, Nanna Christiansen, Katrine Veje and Emma Madsen make up the core of the squad. So far they have had the better of Fortuna in the Danish league this season, beating them 3-2 on the eve of the draw.