Quarter-finalist squad changes confirmed
Friday, March 14, 2014
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The eight quarter-finalists have confirmed their squad for the ties over the next fortnight with Arsenal LFC responsible for ten of the 30 new players registered for the round.
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The UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final contenders have finalised their squad changes ahead of the ties on 23/24 and 29/30 March.
Under Article 16.06 of the competition's official regulations, clubs had until 24.00CET on Wednesday to submit their player lists for the rest of the season. Each of the new squad lists are available on our club pages, though the departed players are still listed there for statistical reasons despite no longer being eligible.
In all, 30 newcomers have been registered, ten of them by Arsenal LFC, with spaces opened up by the departure of a similar number, including England's Gemma Davison, Stephanie Houghton and Ellen White plus Scotland striker Kim Little and Irish club stalwarts Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy.
Among those arriving are England captain Casey Stoney, who previously left Arsenal in 2002 after representing them in the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup season, Japan pair Shinobu Ohno and Yukari Kinga, and Dutch international Anouk Hoogendijk, while Niamh Fahey returns to the squad after injury.
Arsenal's compatriot quarter-final opponents Birmingham City LFC have made five additions, notably England Under-19 defender Meaghan Sargeant, midfielder Remi Allen and Wales forward Hannah Keryakoplis to replace Rachel Unitt, Laura Bassett and Isobel Christiansen.
The most changes by a non-English club are by another in their domestic close season, Sweden's Tyresö FF with nine, Brazilians Nayara, Rilany, Fabiana and Thaisa among them. Tyresö's opposition SV Neulengbach had just two signings including Tseng Shu-o, set to be the first player from Chinese Taipei to take part in a UEFA competition.
Holders VfL Wolfsburg have added Selina Wagner after her recovery from injury and promoted Laura Vetterlein, while uniquely the team that face, FC Barcelona, have no new players drafted in their selection with only Vicky Losada leaving.
Wolfsburg's German rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam have been similarly stable, just Iceland goalkeeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdóttir coming in. Coincidentally the side that play Potsdam, ASD Torres CF, have also added a sole Icelandic international, Hallbera Gísladóttir.
Road to Lisbon
Quarter-finals: 23 & 30 March
Tyresö FF (SWE) v SV Neulengbach (AUT)**
VfL Wolfsburg (GER, holders) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
ASD Torres CF (ITA) v 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER)
*Birmingham City LFC (ENG) v Arsenal LFC (ENG)
*First leg 24 March
**Second leg 29 March
Semi-finals: 19/20 & 26/27 April
Birmingham/Arsenal v Tyresö/Neulengbach
Torres/Potsdam v Wolfsburg/Barcelona
Final (Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon): 22 May
Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2
