UEFA Women's Champions League: Players to watch on Matchday 6

The UEFA Women's Champions League group stage ends on Wednesday and Thursday. We pick out four players who could have key roles as the action unfolds.

Selma Bacha (Lyon)

Even in the current injury absence of Ada Hegerberg, Catarina Macario and Griedge Mbock Bathy, Lyon are so full of stars that it is easy to overlook some of their talents. Just take Bacha, for example, equally at home at left-back or further forward on the wing (as in last week's 1-0 victory at Arsenal). She has already won three finals with OL and been on the bench for another triumph, yet she only turned 22 last month – junior enough to have been the 2021/22 UEFA Women's Champions League Young Player of the Season.

Her nine assists last term, including one in the final, were crucial to Lyon's success, as was her defensive contribution. And as the holders have roared back from their disappointing start to pick up three straight wins, Bacha has herself recovered from injury to help ensure they can afford to draw at home to Juventus on Wednesday and still advance.

Megi Doçi (Vllaznia)

Doçi is used to breaking barriers. A football-obsessed girl who left her home village aged 12 to live with relatives in Tirana for a chance to play female soccer, she has been the prolific spearhead of the Vllaznia team that has dominated in Albania for the last decade; her 66 league goals last season were actually down on an incredible 88 in 2019/20.

She has rejected professional offers from abroad to stay at Vllaznia and pursue her vocation of teaching, and this season was rewarded with their historic run to the group stage. In a group of death alongside Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Vllaznia have not registered a point or goal. But they go to also-eliminated Madrid on Thursday aiming to put that right and Doçi, who has attempted well over 70% of Vllaznia's shots in the group stage, could add to her career achievements with a historic goal.

Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Arsenal are already through, but their loss to Lyon last time out means they still need victory at Zürich on Wednesday to make sure of Group C first place. The Gunners' impressive displays have come despite injuries to key players, including star forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema in recent weeks.

Mead's absence opened up a space on the right of attack, and the solution of manager Jonas Eidevall has been to switch McCabe from the opposite flank. Curling in crosses with her left foot has given Arsenal a different angle of threat, even though they drew a blank against Lyon, and the charismatic Republic of Ireland captain is underlining the qualities that have made her a fan favourite.

Georgia Stanway (Bayern)

England midfielder Stanway was at the heart of her nation's UEFA Women's EURO 2022 success, the 23-year-old helping to beat Germany in the final and then promptly linking up with several opponents as she joined Bayern from Manchester City – a switch agreed before the EURO began.

Stanway has played a crucial role in Bayern clinching progress from their group, not least with her two late goals that sealed a 3-2 win at Benfica from 2-0 down. Bayern host Benfica on Wednesday knowing victory would give them an outside chance of first place in Group D, and Stanway will hope for a repeat showing in her bid to add a European club title to her national-team medal.