In the new group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League are some of the biggest stars in women’s football, as well as a number of newfound talents.
At the gates of the fourth day, we present the profile of some of the most difficult goalkeepers to beat so far.
Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea)
Berger, a spectacular goalkeeper with a decade of experience in this competition, replaced Hedvig Lindahl as Chelsea’s first choice shortly after his arrival in January 2019, which in turn came after treatment for thyroid cancer. Chelsea’s dominance in England and their appearances in Europe since then are largely due to Berger’s great performances in goal and his rapport with the usual center-back couple Millie Bright and Magdalena Eriksson.
Christian Endler (Lyon)
Paris Saint-Germain, who helped end Lyon’s European and national hegemony last season, quickly adapted to the dethroned champions to replace on loan Sarah Bouhaddi. Chile’s number 1, who has a large following in her country, is being a key piece in Lyon’s attempt to regain their hegemony and, so far, Endler has only been beaten in the group stage by a stranger own goal.
Sandra Paños (Barcelona)
Paños has been part of the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season on five occasions in six seasons and was chosen as the best in the competition last year, a reward for his consistency at the time that Barcelona became dominant force in Europe. He can boast of several spectacular unbeaten streaks in recent seasons.
Barbora Votíková (Paris Saint-Germain)
With Endler’s departure to Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain signed Votíková from Slavia Prague, a regular in Europe, in August and has become the first option despite competition from another newcomer, the experienced Swiss goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, as well as up-and-coming German Charlotte Voll. She is also known in the Czech Republic for being a YouTuber with half a million subscribers, one of the most important in that language.
–
