Before battling it out for this year's Women's Champions League title, finalists Barcelona and Lyon are unsurprisingly well-represented in GOAL's XI
Barcelona and Lyon will battle it out for the Women's Champions League title on Saturday in Bilbao in a match that all-but signals the end of the season for most of the women's leagues in Europe, as attention prepares to turn to international breaks and the Olympic Games.
It's been a campaign all about defending titles, with Barca, Lyon, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Roma retaining their league crowns in the continent's biggest leagues, and the Catalans will certainly hope that remains the theme on the continent as they set out for back-to-back titles, albeit against an opponent that has beaten them in their two previous meetings in the final.
Before that huge fixture takes place this weekend, though, it's a chance to reflect on the season that has been and its star performers. So, without further ado, here is GOAL's European Women's Team of the Season…
GettyGK: Mala Grohs (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich’s second successive Frauen-Bundesliga title was built on a similar foundation to last year’s triumph, that being a truly rock solid defence, and Mala Grohs’ contributions to their insane record at the back should not go under the radar.
Grohs kept 14 clean sheets in 21 Bundesliga outings this season, conceding just seven times, despite the expected goals statistics saying that she should have conceded on more than 11 occasions. While that is also thanks to the great defenders in front of her, no goalkeeper who played two or more games in the competition had a better save percentage than the Bayern shot-stopper. That’s quite a stat given she plays for Germany’s best team.
Bayern didn’t have the success in Europe they might’ve hoped this year, falling victim to the ‘group of death’ which saw Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain qualify at the expense of themselves and Italian champions Roma, but it should be noted that Grohs put in some strong performances despite that outcome.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Ellie Carpenter (Lyon)
If you’re having a conversation about the best right-back in the women’s game, then Ellie Carpenter is well in the mix. Returning to action midway through last season after a devastating ACL injury, it understandably took the Australia international a bit of time to get back to her best level, but it feels like she’s approaching that right now.
Still only 24 years old, Carpenter is a reliable performer, the kind of player you always get a seven out of 10 performance from as a minimum. Her tireless energy up and down the right flank are a feature for club and country and allow the attack and the defence to be supported at all times.
That she saved one of her best performances of the season for the Division 1 Feminine play-off final against PSG tells you all about her ability to step up in the biggest moments, too, helping Lyon to claim yet another league title.
GettyCB: Jess Carter (Chelsea)
One of Carpenter’s Lyon team-mates could’ve lined up next to her in this XI here, such has been Gridge Mbock Bathy’s solid return after an injury-hit 2022-23, but it’s Chelsea’s Jess Carter who gets the nod instead thanks to her heroic defensive displays that helped keep the Blues in check at the back despite so many absentees. Carter had five centre-back partners this season at Chelsea because of injuries and really stepped up with captain Millie Bright missing for most of the campaign in particular.
She was a colossus in the Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Barcelona and one of the Blues’ best performers in the return game at Stamford Bridge, too, turning up for the big occasion despite an eventual defeat for Emma Hayes’ side. Carter’s consistency was key in Chelsea’s ability to retain their WSL title, too.
GettyCB: Ingrid Engen (Barcelona)
When Barcelona lost Mapi Leon to a serious knee injury back in December, it felt like the European champions suddenly had a huge weakness in the team. Leon is arguably the very best centre-back on the planet; how do you replace someone of that calibre?
But Ingrid Engen, moving back into the heart of defence from her more regular midfield role, has stepped up brilliantly to ensure Barca haven’t felt Leon’s absence as strongly as one might’ve expected. That Irene Paredes, Leon’s usual centre-back partner, has also been out for spells this season only makes Engen’s displays more impressive.
“My situation has changed a lot,” she told in April. “When an opportunity like the one I had arises, you have to seize it – and that's what I'm doing.”