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As the Champions League group stage reaches its midpoint, GiveMeSport Women takes a look at the talented forwards on display.
From the Women’s Division 1 to the WSL, a range of talent from across Europe shines on the continent’s biggest stage.
So, with the return of European football and available to watch for free, who should you keep an eye out for?
Marie-Antoinette Katoto – PSG
Despite being the French league’s top scorer at 20, Katoto was left out of the France squad’s controversy for the World Cup in 2019.
A year later, the young Frenchwoman scored her 100th goal in the PSG jersey and became the top scorer in the national league in two of the last three seasons, finishing one goal behind golden shoe winner Khadija Shaw last year.
So far this season, Katoto has been particularly impressive in her domestic league, but has always impressed in Europe. She scored two goals as PSG swept Real Madrid 4-0 on Matchday 3.
Now a regular at the club and the country, the PSG star will be essential if his side are to improve on last year’s semi-final loss to Barcelona and win their first European title.
Sam Kerr – Chelsea
Even though Sam Kerr has been the Chelsea star since signing in 2019, Matilda’s skipper still finds a way to impress every time she leaves Emma Haye.
Since her first goal for Chelsea against Arsenal in January 2020, Kerr has become a vital cog in the Haye machine, finishing as the WSL’s top scorer in 2020-21 with 21 goals as the Blues headed for a fourth domestic league title. .
Last year Kerr scored three goals as Chelsea finished second to a magnificent Barcelona side in Europe.
This season she has made an impressive start as Chelsea aim to do better.
So far, the 28-year-old has scored two goals in Servette’s 7-0 defeat by Chelsea, opened the scoring in the 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg with a sublime chip, and was also an element key to the offensive movement that led to the vital winner of Pernille Harder against Juventus.
Cristiana Girelli – Juventus
Girelli was the first Juventus player to reach 50 goals after her consistent form saw her top scorer in each of the last two Serie A seasons.
She scored 16 goals in 2019/20 and 22 a year later, having hit double digits in each of her last nine seasons in the Italian top flight.
She has scored three goals in two European matches this season. His brace in week three included an equalizer in the 96th minute to snatch a point against two-time Champions League winners Wolfsburg.
Although he did not appear in Juventus’ group stage opener, the 31-year-old’s composure in front of goal will be essential if the Italian giants are to come out of an exceptionally difficult group.
Vivianne Miedema – Arsenal
“Listen, Viv [Miedema] it’s like how [Dennis] Bergkamp was, you know.
Former Arsenal legend Ian Wright has praised the Dutch superstar after his impressive performance this season, and rightly so. Miedema is on fire.
Since joining the Gunners in 2017, Miedema has been the WSL’s top scorer in two of the past three seasons and became Arsenal’s all-time top scorer in the WSL league last year. .
Under Jonas Eidevall, Miedema has scored four goals in just six WSL appearances, as the Gunners have won six out of six wins in their quest to claim their first domestic title since 2018-19.
In 2019/20, Miedema was the Champions League’s top scorer, qualifying included, with ten goals.
While this year the Dutch forward scored in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Hoffenheim and scored in the Champions League qualifying against PSV and Slavia Praha.
Jenni Hermoso – Barcelona
Hermoso scored six goals, finishing top scorer, as Barcelona won last year’s competition by the biggest margin ever in a European women’s final.
Hermoso was also on fire in the national league. She scored 31 goals to finish top scorer as Barcelona lost just one game on their way to a back-to-back Spanish top-flight title.
This year she has scored three goals at national level, with a late penalty against HB Køge, her only goal in this year’s European campaign. To be fair, she has only played two matches so far.
Honorable mentions
Fran Kirby – Chelsea
Last year’s top scorer (six) sent Chelsea back to a Champions League final where Hague’s side were woefully short. This year, Kirby already has eight WSL goals. Can she take Chelsea a step further?
Tabea Waßmuth – Wolfsburg
The current top scorer in this year’s competition (five) has found the net in three consecutive matches, including a brace against Servette and Chelsea.
Pernille Harder – Chelsea
The world’s most expensive footballer has scored two vital goals for Chelsea this season, including a winner against Juventus and a 92nd-minute equalizer against Wolfsburg.
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