Matildas Abroad Preview: Aussies battle in England while title race heats up in Sweden

A handful of Aussies will face one another in this weekend's action, with the race to see which club will be crowned champions in Sweden heating up. 

A clash between first-placed Rosengård and second-placed Häcken heats up the race to see who will be crowned Damallsvenskan champions, while first-placed Arsenal welcome third-placed Aston Villa in the FA WSL. 

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Sam Kerr's Chelsea is filled with confidence after downing Manchester United 6-1 last weekend and are looking to take the momentum into their game against Brighton & Hove Albion. The sides sit in fourth and fifth respectively, with Albion's first loss of the season coming against Aston Villa last weekend.

Kerr was on the scoresheet twice against Manchester, with a first goal to Canadian Jessie Fleming rounding out the six for Chelsea. The forward combo of Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr and Pernile Harder are looking dangerous and starting to find their groove after time away. 

The game kicks off on Saturday at 8:30 pm (AEST). 

Chelsea celebrating thier 6-1 win over Manchester United (Photo: GettyImages)
Chelsea celebrating their 6-1 win over Manchester United (Photo: GettyImages)

After netting her first goal for Aston Villa last weekend, Emily Gielnik's side will take on the ladder leaders, Arsenal. The Gunners are off to a flying start in the WSL beating Manchester City 5-0 last weekend and are currently undefeated. 

Caitlin Foord was on the scoresheet twice throughout the week for Arsenal in their midweek 5-1 win over Spurs in the Women's FA Cup, with both Steph Catley and Lydia Williams featuring in the game. 

With a quick turnaround after their Women's FA Cup fixture and a UWCL game next week against title holders FC Barcelona, the start-studded Arsenal will need to call on all their weapons to maintain the top spot on the table. 

The game kicks off on Sunday at 3:15 am (AEST). 

Tameka Yallop was the star of the show in West Ham's 4-0 win over Leicester City last weekend, finding two goals on debut against the newly-promoted side. 

Mackenzie Arnold has featured in goals for all of the Hammers games so far in the WSL and will be up against Manchester City's firepower. 

After Manchester City went down 5-0 to Arsenal last weekend, their side will be out to prove themselves when they welcome West Ham. Gareth Taylor's side has its fair share of injuries with a number of starters sidelined. Hayley Raso has missed City's last two games with a shoulder injury. 

Alanna Kennedy started for City in their 5-0 loss, City showed promising signs in their midweek 6-0 win over Leicester City in the Women's FA Cup. 

The game kicks off on Monday at 12:00 am (AEST).

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MORE: Matildas Abroad Review: Foord and Kerr on the scoresheet in the Women's FA Cup

Tottenham Hotspurs travel to take on Leicester City to round off the WSL Aussie action for the weekend. 

Kyah Simon has only made one appearance for her new club, making her starting debut in Spurs 2-1 win over Manchester City before the international break, Simon picked up a hamstring injury in the win.  

Coach Rehanne Skinner spoke about Simon's injury before the Spurs game last weekend,

“We’ve not got Kyah Simon going into this weekend. She picked up a hamstring injury in the Man City game that will keep her out for another couple of weeks.”

The game kicks off on Monday at 12:00 am (AEST). 

In France, Ellie Carpenter's Lyon are looking to make it five from five when they travel to take on Bordeaux. Lyon is yet to have conceded a goal in their past four games, scoring 19 in the process.

Carpenter picked up an assist in Lyon's 4-0 win over Guingamp, setting up Melvine Malard for the opener in the 3rd minute.

Lyon's game kicks off on Saturday at 5:00 am (AEST). 

Mary Fowler missed Montpellier's 4-1 win over Stade Reims, out with an ankle injury, but will be hoping to make an appearance when they welcome Fleury 91. 

The sides sit in fifth and sixth on the ladder, so an interesting game for fans is in store. 

The game kicks off on Saturday at 5:00 am (AEST). 

In Sweden, a handful of Commonwealth Bank Matildas continue their Damallsvenskan season, Clare Polkinghorne's Vittsjö will welcome Linköping on Saturday at 11:00 pm (AEST).

A top of the table clash is in store when Häcken welcome ladder leaders FC Rosengård, with Häcken striker Stina Blackstenius in staggering form for club and country, Teagan Micah will surely be challenged in goals.

Dylan Holmes scored two goals during Häcken's Svenska Cupen midweek win, scoring her first since making the move to Sweden. 

Charli Grant will get a chance to face her former Adelaide United skipper in Holmes, Rosengård were 2-0 winners when the sides met in June.

The game kicks off on Saturday at 11:00 pm (AEST). 


Moving over to Denmark, Jenna McCormick's AGF takes on Farum for the second week in a row. McCormick's AGF will be hoping to turn the result around, going down 3-1 to Farum last weekend. 

The game kicks off on Saturday at 9:00 pm (AEST). 

Meanwhile, Fortuna Hjørring has moved down to second place after two draws in a row. They look to reclaim the top spot when they take on current ladder leaders HB Køge.

The sides faced one another last weekend in a 2-2 all draw, Angie Beard and Clare Wheeler started in the draw while Indiah-Paige Riley came off the bench. 

The game kicks off on Sunday at 11:00 pm (AEST). 

In the Netherlands, Amy Harrison's PSV sits in second place and have the chance to claim the top of the table when they take on eighth place Den Haag. 

Harrison has featured in two out of PSV's last three games, coming off the bench in both games. 

The game kicks off on Saturday at 3:30 am (AEST). 


Our last destination takes us to Japan, with Alex Chidiac's JEF United still in search of the first win of the season.

JEF welcome fifth-placed Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza in search of their historic first win in the new WE-League season. Chidiac made her first start for JEF in their 2-0 loss last weekend.

The game kicks off on Saturday at 2:00 pm (AEST).