Matildas Abroad Preview: Aussies face off in the Conti Cup final

The FA Women's Continental League Cup will see five-time winners, Arsenal, take on last year's runner-ups, Chelsea at Selhurst Park, with three Aussies set to be in action in the final on Monday morning. 

Australian audiences will be able to watch the Conti Cup final live and for free on the FA Player.

AUS v FRA thin banner

England

Kicking off with the Conti Cup Final, Sam Kerr's Chelsea, who have now been to four consecutive league cup finals, will take on Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord's Arsenal.

The Blues' chance of claiming the Conti Cup title for a record-equalling third consecutive time was squashed last season, with Manchester City beating Chelsea 3-1 in the final, Kerr scoring the only goal for Emma Hayes' side. 

Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates with the FA Women's Continental Tires League Cup Trophy after the FA Women's Continental Tires League Cup Final match between Bristol City Women and Chelsea Women at Vicarage Road on March 14, 2021 in Watford, England . Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates with the FA Women's Continental Tires League Cup Trophy after the FA Women's Continental Tires League Cup Final match between Bristol City Women and Chelsea Women at Vicarage Road on March 14, 2021, in Watford, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Arsenal will be looking to pick up their first piece of silverware under Jonas Eidevall, with Chelsea's 2-0 win to knock the Gunners out of the Women's FA Cup last weekend still fresh in the memory.

This will be the second meeting between the two powerhouses in a Conti Cup final, with Chelsea taking bragging rights after a 2-1 win in the 2019/20 final. 

This game will kick off on Monday morning at 2:00 am AEDT and is free to watch on the FA Player

Moving over to the WSL, Remy Siemsen and Courtney Nevin's Leicester City will be looking for their third win of the season when they travel to take on ladder leaders, Manchester United.

The Foxes' last outing in the WSL saw them record a 1-0 win over Liverpool just before the international break, with Nevin picking up her first assist for her new club in the victory.

This game will kick off on Sunday night at 11:30 pm AEDT.  

Meanwhile, Clare Wheeler's Everton will host Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa, with only one point separating the sides on the table. 

Everton and Aston Villa both come into the game unbeaten in the WSL this year, with Villa recording a 6-2 win over Brighton before the international break. While the Toffees kept Manchester United to a 0-0 draw.

This game will kick off on Monday morning at 12:00 am AEDT.  

Back in Manchester, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy's Manchester City will be looking to sure up their spot in the top four when they host Kyah Simon's Tottenham Hotspur. 

Gareth Taylor's side saw their 16-game unbeaten streak broken just before the international break, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Gunners that saw them knocked out of the Conti Cup at the semi-final stage and unable to defend their title. 

Alanna Kennedy 33 of Manchester City in action during the FA Womens Continental League Cup match Manchester City Women vs Sunderland AFC Women at Etihad Campus, Manchester, United Kingdom, 27th November 2022. Manchester United, ManU Kingdom - ZUMAn307 20221127_zsa_n307_302 Copyright: xConorxMolloy/NewsxImagesx
Alanna Kennedy of Manchester City in action during the FA Womens Continental League Cup match Manchester City Women vs Sunderland AFC Women at Etihad Campus, Manchester, United Kingdom, 27th November 2022. Manchester United, ManU Kingdom (Photo: ConorxMolloy/NewsxImages)

The last meeting between the two sides in October last year saw City collect all three points with a 3-0 win over the Spurs, looking to replicate this result on Monday morning (AEDT).

This game will kick off on Monday morning at 1:00 am AEDT.  

Lastly, Mackenzie Arnold's West Ham United will be looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats in all competitions, when they take on 11th-place Reading FC.

The Hammers recorded a 3-2 win over the Royals in their last meeting back in October, with three first-half goals securing the victory.

This game will kick off on Monday morning at 1:00 am AEDT.  

France

Moving over to France, Ellie Carpenter's Lyon could book their spot in the Coupe de France féminine semi-final when they take on Reims. 

After only making her return from an ACL injury in early February, Carpenter was named Player of the Match in Lyon's last outing. 

Ellie Carpenter (12) from OL in action during D1 Arkema game between Olympique Lyonnais and Bordeaux at Groupama Stadium OL Training Center in DÃ cines-Charpieu, France. (Pauline FIGUET / SPP)
Ellie Carpenter from OL in action during the D1 Arkema game between Olympique Lyonnais and Bordeaux at Groupama Stadium OL Training Center in DÃ cines-Charpieu, France. (Photo: Pauline FIGUET / SPP)

This game will kick off on Saturday night at 11:45 pm AEDT. 

Sweden

Our last stop takes us to Sweden, with the Swedish Women's Cup group stage continuing. 

Teagan Micah's FC Rosengård take Alingsås at 1:00 am AEDT on Sunday morning, the defending champions are looking for the first win of the group stage.
Kyra Cooney-Cross' Hammarby face Uppsala at 4:00 am AEDT on Sunday morning.
Clare Polkinghorne and Charli Grant's Vittsjö GIK take on KIF Örebro DFF at 1:00 am AEDT on Monday morning. 
Aivi Luik's BK Häcken take on Växjö DFF at 1:00 am AEDT on Monday morning.