Matildas Abroad Preview: Arsenal take on league leaders Manchester City in WSL

Arsenal will take on top-of-the-table Manchester City this week as they hope to establish themselves back in the top three of the WSL.

Elsewhere, TSG Hoffenheim could move back into a European qualification place with a win, while every game remains crucial for Serie A Femminile leaders AS Roma.

Read our preview of the Matildas Abroad action below.

WAC 2026 Single Match Tickets

England

WSL

Emily van Egmond’s Leicester City hosts Manchester United on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. The Foxes are only two points from a potential relegation playoff, while a win for United would mean they remain second for another week.

Arsenal and Manchester City clash on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. City look to be cruising to the WSL title while Arsenal are fighting to recapture a place in Europe next season. Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross will all be available for the Gunners, while Mary Fowler will hope to build her minutes after making her competitive return last week.

London City Lionesses will hope to continue their good form this year when they host Everton on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. Alanna Kennedy and the Lionesses have found form after the winter break, while Clare Wheeler and Everton still find themselves looking over their shoulder towards the relegation battle – any points would be highly valuable here.

West Ham and Brighton face off on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. The Hammers are only one point from the bottom of the table, so any result remains vital for their season. Katrina Gorry will be available for West Ham and will likely line up against Charlie Rule for Brighton.

A London Derby finishes the round, with Tottenham Hotspur taking on Chelsea. Chelsea will be hurting after their consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City and will hope that Spurs can provide the tonic they need to get their season back on track. Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter will be available for Chelsea, and Clare Hunt is expected to line up in central defence for Tottenham. Charli Grant remains unavailable for Spurs with a knee injury.

You can catch the WSL on Stan Sport.

WSL2

Newcastle United travel to take on Southampton on Monday, 1am AEDT. They desperately need three points to keep them in touch with the promotion race. Kaitlyn Torpey will be available for the Magpies.

Alana Murphy could be set for her Nottingham Forest debut when they host the league leaders, Charlton Athletic. 

You can watch selected WSL2 games on their YouTube Channel.

France

Lyon play Saint-Étienne on Monday, 1am AEDT as they look to maintain their 12-point lead at the top of the league table. Teagan Micah will be available for Lyon.

Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt host Leverkusen on Sunday, 12am AEDT. A win would be massive for their own hopes of entering the top three, putting them to within one point of their opponents. Hayley Raso will be available for Frankfurt.

Jamilla Rankin’s TSG Hoffenheim take on FC Nurnberg on Monday, 4.30am AEDT. A win could see Hoffenheim move into third. Rankin may take on a familiar face in the fixture, after Brisbane Roar’s Leia Varley transferred to Nurnberg this week.

Italy

Sassuolo takes on Parma on Saturday, 10.30pm AEDT. It is a game of huge consequence when it comes to the relegation battle, with both teams on nine points, two ahead of bottom-place Ternana. Jessika Nash and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi will be available for Sassuolo.

Alex Chidiac’s Como play Juventus on Sunday, 1am AEDT. Juventus will be the favourites, but their league form has been shaky, and Como are more than capable of pulling off an upset. A win for Como could see them finish the round as high as fourth.

It’s another big game for league leaders AS Roma, who play AC Milan on Sunday, 10.30pm AEDT. Roma are five points clear, but after only just picking up a point last week, they will be determined to keep the chasing pack at arm’s length. Winonah Heatley will be available for Roma.

You can watch the Serie A Femminile on DAZN.

United States

DC Power plays their first game after the winter break in the USL when they take on Sporting Jax on Sunday, 9am AEDT. DC will need to start picking up wins if they are to contest for a top-four spot, but it will be no easy feat against the league leaders. Morgan Aquino is expected to line up in goals for the Power.