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

As the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals start this weekend, we look at a player from each team who will need to perform to keep their side in contention for a place in the final in Eindhoven.

Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Chelsea know a good result at home to Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Saturday is vital considering their opponents' record at Camp Nou. The Blaugrana have not conceded an away goal in 2023, but Chelsea have a not-so-secret weapon in Australia forward Kerr.

The 29-year-old has been in fine form of late, scoring in Chelsea's recent WSL and FA Cup wins at Aston Villa and for Australia against England, as well as matches with key league rivals Manchester United and Arsenal. Nearly two years on from drawing a blank in the 2021 final against Barcelona, Kerr has another chance to show why she is regarded by Blues boss Emma Hayes as a "total nightmare to defend against".

Mapi León (Barcelona)

There are few forwards Blaugrana centre-back León loses sleep over. Blessed with both strength and speed, and a determined attitude, she has been pivotal to Barcelona's rise to European prominence.

Comfortable on the ball, she is also able to contribute further up the pitch, as evidenced by her spectacular long-distance strike in the quarter-final against Roma. The game at Stamford Bridge would be her 50th in Europe.

Sveindís Jónsdóttir (Wolfsburg)

Snapped up by Wolfsburg from Keflavík in her native Iceland when still a teenager, and loaned to Sweden's Kristianstad in 2021, Jónsdóttir is now a firmly established Wolfsburg presence. Flying down the wing, there are few faster players in the game.

She may not always be a starter but Jónsdóttir always makes an impact. That was underlined last weekend as she began the German Cup semi-final with Bayern and was pretty much unplayable, scoring twice in a stunning 5-0 victory. More of the same against Arsenal on Sunday would be very bad news for the Gunners.

Victoria Pelova (Arsenal)

Pelova has actually already been knocked out of this competition this season, and by Arsenal. But having fallen to the Gunners with Ajax in round 2, the Netherlands international switched to Arsenal in January and has played a huge part in keeping their season on track despite the injury crisis at the club.

The versatile 23-year-old has taken on the right-sided attacking role filled by Beth Mead before her ACL rupture in November and Pelova's fine performances there have included the 2-0 defeat of Bayern in the quarter-final second leg. Hard-working and always competitive, as now team-mate Lia Wälti found out when the two tussled in the Ajax tie.