Matildas Abroad Preview: Arsenal host Chelsea in huge WSL clash; Thorns set for NWSL playoffs

Chelsea’s undefeated domestic record will come under serious threat on Saturday when they travel to the Emirates to take on European champions Arsenal.

Elsewhere, the Portland Thorns will host the San Diego Wave in a blockbuster first round of the NWSL playoffs.

Read our preview of where you can find all of our Matildas Abroad below.

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England

Arsenal and Chelsea face off in a huge clash on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. Chelsea are currently top of the table, but any game against the other teams in the ‘big four’ is a massive occasion. Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley are Australia’s representatives for the home side, while Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter will hope to continue their fantastic form with the Blues.

London City Lionesses host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 10.55pm AEDT. Spurs are riding high after a good start to the season, but will face a tough test against a Lionesses side with lofty ambitions. Alanna Kennedy will be available for London City, while Clare Hunt and Charli Grant will be available for Spurs.

West Ham will be seeking their first point in the league when they take on Leicester City on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. The Hammers will back themselves to finally get on the board on matchday eight against a Foxes side coming off the back of a comprehensive defeat last week. Katrina Gorry will be available in midfield for West Ham, while Emily van Egmond is expected to return for Leicester.

Everton and Manchester City round out the weekend on Monday, 1.30am AEDT. Depending on results elsewhere, City could jump to top of the table with a victory. Clare Wheeler will be available for the Toffees while Mary Fowler remains unavailable for City, continuing her ACL rehabilitation.

You can watch the WSL live and on demand on Stan Sport.

Sweden

CommBank Matildas will be looking to finish strong in the penultimate round of the Damallsvenskan 2025 season.

AIK Fotboll take on Brommapojkarna on Sunday, 12am AEDT. AIK have nothing but pride on the line for the final few rounds, but will be hoping to finish the season well. Jada Whyman has been unavailable due to a knee injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the gym.

Malmö FF will secure European football next season with a victory against Norrköping on Sunday, 1am AEDT. While they are out of the title race, an opportunity to play continental football is something that Courtney Nevin and her side will no doubt relish.

Vittsjö GIK host Växjö DFF on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. Both sides are comfortably midtable – Vittsjö could move up one place to sixth with a successful end to the season. Daniela Galic will hope to use these games to continue her fantastic run of form since joining the Swedish side midseason.

Kristianstads DFF travel to take on Linköping on Tuesday, 5am AEDT. Kristianstads are favourites against the relegation-threatened side, but Linköping have it all to play for, requiring two wins to finish the season to avoid dropping to the second division. Amy Sayer and Remy Siemsen will be available for Kristianstads.

United States

NWSL

The Portland Thorns host the San Diego Wave in the first round of the NWSL playoffs on Monday, 7am AEDT. They earned hosting rights with a win on the final day of the regular season and will hope their home ground advantage can carry them to playoff success. Mackenzie Arnold and Kaitlyn Torpey will be available for the Thorns.

Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold (18) prepares to kick the ball during the first half against Orlando Pride at Providence Park.

You can catch the NWSL playoffs on Stan Sport.

USL

DC Power take on Brooklyn FC Sunday, 7am AEDT. DC have had a mixed start to the season and will have to kick on to greater results in order to finish in the top four. Morgan Aquino will be available for DC.

France

Lyon takes on Montpellier on Saturday, 5am AEDT. Lyon have a perfect record so far in the league and are favourites to continue that this weekend. Teagan Micah will be available for Lyon after making her first appearance in the league last week.

Germany

Round 9 of the Frauen-Bundesliga was midweek. Jamilla Rankin’s TSG Hoffenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1, with Rankin starting and playing the full match. Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt relied on a stoppage-time goal to secure a draw with Koln, as Hayley Raso was a second-half substitute.

The football continues this weekend. Eintracht Frankfurt take on Wolfsburg on Sunday, 12am AEDT. A win could see Frankfurt jump to third, but with a gap already emerging between Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and the rest, the battle for the third European spot may be the prize on offer. Hayley Raso will be available for Frankfurt.

TSG Hoffenheim travel to take on Koln on Monday, 2am AEDT. Hoffenheim will hope to capitalise on the extra day’s rest to secure all three points – they, like Frankfurt, could finish the round in second. Jamilla Rankin will be available for Hoffenheim.

Italy

AS Roma take on Fiorentina on Saturday, 6am AEDT. They have four wins from four so far in the league and will hope to continue that record on the weekend. Winonah Heatley is available for Roma.

Sassuolo travels to face Inter Milan on Saturday, 10.30pm AEDT. Jessika Nash and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi will be out to lift their side into midtable with a win.

Alex Chidiac’s Como take on Ternana Calcio on Sunday, 10.30pm AEDT. Como will go into the match as favourites, with Ternana yet to pick up a point this season.

You can catch the Serie A Femminile on DAZN.

Mexico

CF Monterrey drew 1-1 with Club America in the first leg of the Apertura playoff quarter-finals midweek. Emily Gielnik came off the bench in the second half of that fixture, and will be available again for the second leg set to take place on Monday, 12.15pm AEDT.