A massive North London Derby awaits this weekend as Arsenal hope to get their season back on track.
Midweek, Hana Lowry scored a hat-trick for Vålerenga in their 3-0 victory in the Norwegian Cup, while Emily van Egmond was also on the scoresheet in England in the League Cup.
Read about the CommBank Matildas abroad in action below.
England
League Cup
Charlton defeated Alexia Apostolakis’ Bristol City 2-0. The game was even until a red card for Bristol in the second half changed things, with Emily van Egmond coming off the bench at half-time to score the opener, and Leah Davidson entering the game in the 76th minute to assist the second. Alexia Apostolakis was a second-half substitute for Bristol City.
Everton continued the theme, defeating Bristol’s fellow WSL2 side Newcastle United 2-0. A brace to Ornella Vignola sealed the result, with Clare Wheeler picking up the assist for the second goal. Wheeler was a second-half substitute while Holly McNamara was an unused substitute in a rotated side. Kaitlyn Torpey was not in the Magpies matchday squad.
London City Lionesses defeated West Ham 2-1. Alanna Kennedy remains unavailable for the Lionesses due to injury.
WSL
The week’s action starts with a North London Derby on Saturday, 10.45pm AEDT, with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Arsenal in a vital clash. Spurs have started the season well while Arsenal are in desperate need of three points to get their season back on track. Clare Hunt remains injured for Spurs, while all of Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord will be available for Arsenal.
Brighton & Hove Albion host West Ham on Sunday, 3.15am AEDT. Charlie Rule will be hoping to make her return for the Seagulls as they look to push themselves up the ladder.
Chelsea travel to take on Crystal Palace on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. Ellie Carpenter has been in scintillating form, with her side remaining undefeated so far this season, and she is expected to start in her familiar right-back spot as they hope to keep up with Manchester City in the title race.
Charlton Athletic will hope to bring their League Cup form into the league itself when they take on Birmingham on Monday, 1am AEDT. Emily van Egmond and Leah Davidson are coming into the game after goal contributions and have been regular starters throughout the WSL. Charlton are still searching for their first league point.
Everton and Aston Villa face off on Monday, 1am AEDT. The Toffees go into this match as slight favourites, but with Villa packing plenty of punch, it is anyone’s game. Clare Wheeler and Holly McNamara will both be available for Everton.
London City Lionesses travel to take on Liverpool on Monday, 1am AEDT. Alanna Kennedy will hope to make her return from injury in this game.
The round finishes with a Manchester derby on Sunday, 5am AEDT. City are currently top of the table, having won all of their matches – but United will be doing everything they can to stop them. Mary Fowler will be available for City.
WSL2
Bristol City take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, 1am AEDT. The teams have near-identical records so far this season, and the match will go a long way to telling us how they will finish the season. Alexia Apostolakis will be available for Bristol.
There will be up to three CommBank Matildas on the park when Nottingham Forest hosts Newcastle United on Monday, 1am AEDT. Alana Murphy and Leticia McKenna will be out to spoil the party of Kaitlyn Torpey’s Magpies, who are currently five wins from five in the league.
Sweden
Malmö FF face Kristianstad DFF on Sunday, 12am AEDT. A win – pending other results – could see them secure third place in the league, and a spot in European competition next season. Amy Sayer, Charli Grant and Courtney Nevin will be available for Malmö.
FC Rosengård take on AIK Fotboll on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. Last week’s crucial win put Rosengård three points clear of the relegation zone, but any points they can get out of their final four games will be crucial to keeping them there. Bryleeh Henry, Isabel Gomez and Remy Siemsen will be available for Rosengård.
Vittsjö GIK finish the round by taking on PIteå on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. They’ll be hoping to bounce back after last week’s loss. Daniela Galic will be available for Vittsjö.
United States
The Portland Thorns host the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, 1pm AEDT. It is a crucial contest in the context of the top eight, with two points separating the Thorns in seventh and the Courage in ninth. Mackenzie Arnold will be available for the Thorns.
Gotham FC face a battle to hold onto top spot when they take on the Orlando Pride on Monday, 6am AEDT. Gotham are now only one point clear on top of the table and will need to win both games to secure the shield. Sam Kerr will be available for Gotham.
Germany
Eintracht Frankfurt travel to take on Stuttgart on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. A win will keep them in third, with their noses in front of Leverkusen in fourth. Hayley Raso and Jamilla Rankin will be available for Frankfurt.
Italy
Como take on Lazio on Sunday, 10.30pm AEDT. They have one win, one draw and one loss from their three league games so far and hope to tip the scales in favour of winning on the weekend. Alex Chidiac will be available for Como.
It’s a huge match for Winonah Heatley’s AS Roma, when they take on Juventus on Sunday, 3.30am AEDT. The two clubs have been the perennial favourites for the league, and their head-to-head clashes could determine the winner at the end of the season. Heatley will be available for Roma.
Canada
It will be CommBank Matilda v CommBank Matilda in Canada, as Tori Tumeth’s Vancouver Rise host Kahli Johnson’s Calgary Wild. Vancouver needs a win from the final game of the season to guarantee playoffs, while the Wild will be motivated to continue their strong form to end the season and take it with them into the next campaign. Both players will be available for their respective sides.
Norway
Norway Cup
Hana Lowry became a hat-trick hero in Norway as Vålerenga defeated Strömsgodset 3-0 in the Cup. She scored her first goal before half-time, and two second-half goals secured the win and the team’s advancement to the quarter-finals. She now has eight goal contributions since joining mid-season.
Toppserien
Vålerenga travel to take on Brann on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. Lowry will be hoping to continue her form from the cup as the side looks to jump into third in the league.
