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

The UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final second legs are on Saturday and Sunday. We highlight four players with their eyes on Bilbao.

Jess Carter (Chelsea)

Last Saturday Chelsea did what no other club have managed since Lyon in March 2016, and stopped Barcelona from scoring at home in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The 1-0 first-leg win was earned by Erin Cuthbert's goal, but just as crucial was Chelsea limiting their hosts to a single shot on target.

Much of that was down to Carter, who in the last couple of years has developed into a world-leading centre-back for both Chelsea and England, not least in the recent injury absence of Millie Bright. In the 2021 Champions League final in Gothenburg, Carter – in her former specialist position of left-back – was given a torrid time by Barcelona and Caroline Graham Hansen in particular in a painful 4-0 defeat. But with Chelsea hoping to make their way to a second decider on Saturday, Carter now presents a formidable obstacle to her former nemeses.

Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)

Speaking of Graham Hansen, if anyone can turn the tie in London, it could be the Norwegian attacker. She has 26 goals and 24 assists for Barcelona this season –five of each category in Europe – and not only was brilliant against Chelsea in the 2021 final but a year ago struck in both legs of the semi-final defeat of the Blues including a brilliant finish early in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Graham Hansen, usually operating on the right but hard to pin down, has it in her to produce a moment of magic, as in last year's semi, or can mastermind a dominant performance. Chelsea will be more than aware of both possibilities on Saturday.

Sandy Baltimore (Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris saw a two-goal lead disappear as they lost 3-2 at Lyon in their first leg but the tie still remains wide open ahead of Sunday's Parc des Princes return. Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored both Paris goals but the creator of the first, Baltimore, has been just as crucial a part of their attacking play in recent years.

Her pace, creativity and energy make Baltimore a dangerous presence, and a veteran of many tussles with Lyon since the one-time youth product broke into the Paris team seven years ago. Can Baltimore inspire Paris to their third (and her first) Champions League final in the latest chapter of their OL rivalry?

Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)

Vital to that Lyon comeback was 20-year-old Haitian midfielder Dumornay. The equaliser was her first Champions League goal, and a stunner, part of a marvellous individual display. She had previously made an impact against Paris, getting the winner for Reims in a 1-0 league win in June 2022, but her semi-final performance last Saturday was in front of close to 40,000 fans and another reason why she is considered one of the most exciting talents in the world.

To get to the Champions League final would be another chance to capture headlines for a player who quickly has looked at home in the stellar Lyon line-up.