The second spherical of Girls's Champions League qualifying will get below approach on Wednesday with a number of notable groups coming into, amongst them Manchester United, Brann, Glasgow Metropolis and Roma. The winners of Wednesday's semi-finals will progress to Saturday's finals and play for a spot in mid-September's remaining spherical of qualifying. Listed here are eight gamers to regulate this week.
Julia Zigiotti (Manchester United): With Fridolina Rolfö persevering with to recuperate from the harm that hampered her at Euro 2025, loads of eyes will probably be on her compatriot and now club-mate Zigiotti. The Swede was United's different marquee signing this summer time and brings a wealth of expertise. The tenacious defensive midfielder arrived after a double-winning season with Bayern Munich and was on the coronary heart of her nation's run to the quarter-finals in Switzerland. Zigiotti will probably be acquainted to Girls's Tremendous League followers from her two-year spell at Brighton. Her key qualities lie in her means to hyperlink the transition from defence to assault in addition to her high quality within the press and work ethic. Her introduction will maybe permit Dominique Janssen to return to her extra pure defensive place.
Riola Xhemaili (PSV): The midfielder wrote her identify into the Swiss soccer historical past books this summer time with a 92nd-minute equaliser towards Finland that despatched the hosts to their first European Championship quarter-final. Xhemaili made a everlasting transfer to PSV after a profitable mortgage from Wolfsburg final season and will probably be seeking to take one other massive scalp with the Eredivisie facet after they face United on Wednesday. She scored 10 targets and offered six assists within the final marketing campaign and has change into an integral a part of Roeland ten Berge's facet.
Oona Sevenius (Rosengård): Euro 2025 spectators will bear in mind Sevenius's impression in an thrilling Finland staff. Her stunning end towards Norway on her first begin at a significant match and the celebration that adopted marked the 21-year-old as one to look at on the European stage. After a while in Italy and a mortgage at FC Como, the ahead signed for Rosengård in January and has made 13 appearances this season. The Swedish staff will probably be favourites to come back via a gap tie with North Macedonia's Ljuboten.
Signe Gaupset (Brann): The midfielder's profession has been on a steep upward trajectory since she broke into Brann's facet in 2021 and reveals no signal of slowing. The most effective children in Switzerland this summer time, the 20-year-old Norwegian produced a memorable show towards Iceland, scoring twice and offering two assists. Gaupset is the jewel in Brann's crown with 11 targets and eight assists registered on this season's Toppserien and she or he will probably be trying ahead to the problem of breaking down Inter's defence. A few of the prime golf equipment in Europe will probably be attempting to prise her away from the Bergen-based staff, with whom in March she signed a brand new contract till 2027.
Alayah Pilgrim (Roma): After important battles with harm final season, the Switzerland worldwide recovered to complete the marketing campaign with Roma and earn her choice for Pia Sundhage's Euro 2025 squad. The 22-year-old needed to accept being an impression participant from the bench however made her mark on her main match bow with a objective within the 2-0 victory over Iceland. A ahead with tempo to burn, she is an issue for any defence and will probably be relishing the chance to run on the backline of Aktobe, a membership from Kazakhstan.
Smilla Holmberg (Hammarby): The appropriate-back had a summer time of contrasting fortunes. The enjoyment of her standout efficiency and objective in Sweden's 4-1 demolition of Germany was adopted by the agony of lacking the penalty that despatched England to the semi-finals. The dynamic 18-year-old is a star within the making with the potential to change into the whole trendy full-back. Her emergence at Hammarby has been sensational and she or he is likely one of the facet's most efficient gamers within the Damallsvenskan this season.
Roisin Molloy (Athlone City): The Irish membership's inaugural look in Champions League qualifying introduced a 4-0 victory over Cardiff Metropolis final month and the 23-year-old Molloy was a standout performer with two targets and an help. The appropriate-winger has been catching the attention domestically since signing for Athlone in 2021. She made 18 begins final season and scored 5 targets as Colin Fortune's facet received their first league title and is constant in a wealthy vein of type. The standard of the seasoned Icelandic champions Breiðablik would be the subsequent problem for the thrilling midfielder.
Erín McLaughlin (Glasgow Metropolis): The Republic of Eire worldwide moved to Glasgow on a three-year deal this summer time after a season with Portsmouth. The 22-year-old midfielder has proven sturdy potential, her imaginative and prescient, technical means and power shining via in her performances at Peamount United and, final season, within the Championship. She has caught the attention of Carla Ward, who known as her up for Eire's summer time friendlies towards the USA.
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