Women's Champions League: Players to watch in the quarter-final second legs

The UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final second legs are on Wednesday and Thursday; we highlight four players looking to inspire their clubs to the semis.

Klara Bühl (Bayern)

Bayern have the tough task of overturning a 2-0 deficit at Lyon and will need goals at OL Stadium on Wednesday. Pernille Harder currently leads the way as top scorer but chances will need to be created, and Bühl could be key to that.

The leading assist-maker in the Bundesliga this season, earlier in the month Bühl signed a new contract running until June 2027, having first moved to Bayern in 2020. When Bühl's new contract was announced, Bayern women's football director Bianca Rech said: "She’s pure power as a player. She’s two-footed, good at set pieces and adds a lot with her speed. Those abilities mean she’s capable of deciding games."

Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

Arsenal also have to come back from 2-0 down on Wednesday, but at least have home advantage against Real Madrid. The away loss was a new experience for Caldentey, who in her time with Barcelona had beaten the capital club every time they met.

Caldentey left Barcelona after a decade and three Champions League titles to join Arsenal last summer and proved an immediate hit with the Gunners fans with plenty of goals and assists. Alessia Russo, who has thrived alongside Caldentey this season, with each getting four goals in the Champions League proper, said before the Madrid first leg: "She's been great since she's come in. I feel like I learned a lot off her too, she's obviously a world-class player, and a person too."

Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea)

Ramírez and the rest of the Chelsea team had a frustrating evening on Wednesday as they fell to their first defeat of the season, 2-0 at Manchester City, leaving them with a big task at Stamford Bridge to reach a third straight semi-final. Still, Colombia forward Ramírez will be the focal point of the Blues attack as they look to turn the tie.

City certainly have reason to be wary of Ramírez, who has already scored twice against them this season, in Chelsea's 2-0 league win at Stamford Bridge in November and again four days before the first leg of this tie when the Blues secured a 2-1 victory in the English League Cup final. On her day, Ramírez can be unplayable.

Sydney Schertenleib (Barcelona)

Holders Barcelona look on course for the semi-finals following their 4-1 first-leg win at Wolfsburg and perhaps the highlight of the game was near the end when 18-year-old Schertenleib produced a classy finish for her first Champions League goal, on only her second appearance in Europe, both from the bench.

The Swiss international joined Barcelona from Grasshopper Club last summer and in recent weeks has begun to be a regular presence in the senior side, with several league starts and even a player of the match performance against Tenerife a few days before the trip to Wolfsburg. Already looking likely to feature for the hosts at UEFA Women's EURO 2025, Schertenleib's technical ability and intelligent approach ensures she is already looking at home alongside Barcelona's established stars.

Sydney Schertenleib takes the congratulations after scoring against WolfsburgGetty Images