'I look up to her' - USWNT prospect Eva Gaetino relishing opportunity to face Lindsey Horan as PSG and Lyon fight for Champions League final place

Earlier this month, Gaetino was in camp with Horan for the first time after earning her maiden USWNT call-up. It came just a few weeks after the defender chose to take the first steps of her professional career in Europe rather than the U.S., signing for PSG after four years at Notre Dame.

Gaetino has impressed in her handful of appearances for the Parisians, including off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Lyon in February. Indeed, she scored her first goal for the club in the last round of the UWCL as they defeated Hacken. That victory set up a clash with Lyon in the semi-finals, with the first leg to take place on Saturday.

Ahead of the game, asked who she expected to be the most important player to be aware of, and if there was anyone in particular she was excited to play against, Gaetino responded: "I think for both of those questions, my answer would be Lindsay Horan.

"I think even just being in camp with her and being on her team and seeing her strengths, she's incredible on both sides of the ball. She's very dynamic in the attack, very creative, and is also a very good defender. Having to face her higher up the field is exciting for me because I look up to her so much.

"They have world-class players and even in my 20 minutes against them previously, just the types of crosses that they were hitting and the runners and the timing of their headers, it's a huge threat. I think that's going to be a huge challenge and I'm excited for it."

Gaetino didn't win her first cap for the USWNT during that April window but the camp itself was extremely valuable for a player who is still just 21 years old. "[It] was an incredible experience," she added. "I've been watching some of those players since I was 10 years old. Playing alongside them was truly a dream come true. Also, learning that style was very helpful for me and just getting to see how they warm up, how they rehab, all that stuff which is so important at this level, was truly eye opening to me and I really appreciate that experience."

Gaetino will hope to be on the roster with Horan again when the USWNT returns to action in June, but the focus for both right now is on club matters and this UWCL semi-final. Lyon hosts the first leg on Saturday, April 20, while the second will be played on Sunday, April 28 in Paris. The winner will play Barcelona or Chelsea in the final in Bilbao on Saturday, May 25.