Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold will be involved in a crucial relegation three pointer this weekend in the WSL, with their West Ham taking on Bristol City. Elsewhere, CommBank Matildas will be involved in Coupe de France action, and Hayley Raso’s Real Madrid will look to bounce back in the league after a disappointing Champions League result against Chelsea.
Read our preview of all of the Matildas Abroad action below.
England
Brighton & Hove Albion will host league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, 4.30am AEDT. Chelsea will go into the game as favourites – even without Sam Kerr – but Brighton fans have seen enough from their team this season to have hope. Charlie Rule has been unavailable for the Seagulls since the new year and it is unclear whether she will feature on the weekend.
Clare Wheeler will face off against Courtney Nevin and Remy Siemsen on Sunday, 11.30pm AEDT as Everton take on Leicester City. Wheeler and Nevin have established themselves as consistent starters, while Siemsen continues to gain minutes off the bench after recovering from her pre-season ankle injury. While neither team is in imminent danger of the relegation zone, both sides will be desperate for three points that would lift them well above West Ham and Bristol City in 11th and 12th.
Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City to North London on Monday, 1am AEDT. A win for City will see them remain within touching distance of Chelsea, while Spurs will be hoping to break into the top four.
Charli Grant will be hoping to build on her performance in the Conti Cup midweek, starting, scoring her first goal for Spurs and being named Player of the Match.
Mary Fowler came off the bench late in City’s cup fixture and is likely to do the same this weekend. There is no update yet on the fitness of Alanna Kennedy, who is yet to feature for Gareth Taylor’s side in 2024 with a minor niggle.
West Ham will travel to Bristol City on Monday, 1am AEDT in a crucial relegation clash. Both sides languish on the foot of the ladder on five points each, and a win for either would be a huge boost.
A clean sheet from Mackenzie Arnold would go a long way to lifting her side to three points, while Katrina Gorry has been trusted with a starting role since signing earlier this month, and will likely do the same on the weekend.
Finally, Teagan Micah’s Liverpool host Arsenal on Monday, 3.30am AEDT. Arsenal are in that top three race along with Manchester City and Chelsea and will be hoping for three points to keep themselves in title contention.
Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley are regular starters for Arsenal, while Kyra Cooney-Cross will hope to play a role off the bench. Micah will be hoping she gets the opportunity to face off against her Australian teammates in goals.
France
This weekend’s fixtures in France are dedicated to the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France Féminine.
PSG will take on Saint-Étienne on Saturday, 11.30pm AEDT. It should be a reasonably simple assignment for Les Parisiennes but anything can happen in a cup tie. Clare Hunt has been a regular starter in the heart of defence for the French side but may be rested on the weekend, as PSG have a crucial UWCL clash midweek that is a do-or-die on their quarter-final hopes.
Sarah Hunter’s Paris FC will travel to take on Le Havre on Sunday, 12.30am AEDT. After their fast start to the season, Paris have faltered in form somewhat and will be hoping to make their present felt in the French Cup. In and out of the squad this season, Hunter is likely to play a part in the cup.
Ellie Carpenter's Lyon will look to keep their unbeaten streak in all competitions intact when they host Division 2 Féminine, Nantes.
Lyon will be looking to defend their title and book their spot in the quarter-finals of the cup, with the game kicking off on Monday morning at 1:00am AEDT.
Spain
Real Madrid will be hoping to bounce back after Champions League defeat to Chelsea as they take on Athletic Club on Sunday, 4.30am AEDT.
They are currently sitting in third, equal on points with both Levante and Madrid CFF, but will be hopeful to end the round back in second after a win on Sunday morning. Hayley Raso is expected to be involved either as a starter or from the bench.