Matildas Abroad Preview: Emily van Egmond a chance at NWSL shield

Taryn Heddo 1697213407,1697213956

Emily van Egmond has the opportunity to win the NWSL shield as her San Diego Wave take on Racing Louisville in their final regular season game.

Get the lowdown on all of the Matildas abroad in action this weekend.

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England

The WSL fixtures get underway on Sunday, 3.30am AEDT as Chelsea take on West Ham. Sam Kerr will need to use all of her acumen to get past West Ham captain Mackenzie Arnold in goals, who has been in imperious form to start the season.

Courtney Nevin’s Leicester City travel to Manchester to take on United on Sunday, 10pm AEDT. Leicester are top of the table after taking every point on offer for the first two rounds but face their toughest opposition yet in the Red Devils. Remy Siemsen remains unavailable due to injury.

On the other side of Manchester, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy’s Manchester City take on Bristol City at 11pm AEDT. Kennedy was rested for the Conti Cup midweek but can be expected to start, while Fowler will look to continue her run of games in light blue.

Arsenal will be looking for their first three points of the season as they host Aston Villa on Monday, 12am AEDT. Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley will be crucial to the Gunners' success on their left side. Teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross is still waiting for her first start in North London.

Newly called-up Charlize Rule will be hoping for her first WSL start as her Brighton & Hove Albion side plays Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, 2am AEDT. She scored her first goal for the club from a set piece in the Conti Cup midweek and has come off the bench twice in the WSL.

Finally, Clare Wheeler’s Everton will travel to take on Teagan Micah’s Liverpool on Monday, 2.30am AEDT. Both played 90 minutes in the Conti Cup but will have been options from the bench for their respective clubs in the WSL so far.

Australian viewers can catch all of the WSL action on Optus Sport with a paid subscription.

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Sweden

Aivi Luik’s BK Häcken have the opportunity to solidify their place on top of the Damallsvenskan ladder as they take on relegation-threatened IF Brommapojkarna on Sunday, 12am AEDT. Luik made her return to the matchday squad as an unused substitute last time out.

Fourth-placed Vittsjö GIK face a stern test as they take on fifth-placed Piteå IF on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. Clare Polkinghorne is coming off a brace in the Swedish Cup midweek and is expected to start alongside teammates Katrina Gorry and Charli Grant.

Amy Sayer’s Kristianstads DFF round out the weekend’s fixtures as they host KIF Örebro DFF on Monday, 12am AEDT. Sayer started in their previous Damallsvenskan fixture and she will be hoping to elevate them up the table with only four rounds to go.

France

After making her club debut in the Champions League midweek, Clare Hunt will be hoping to repeat the feat in the Division 1 Féminine for PSG as they host Reims on Sunday, 3am AEDT.

Ellie Carpenter’s Lyon, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to pull further ahead on top of the table as they take on Saint-Etienne on Sunday, 6am AEDT.

Spain

Real Madrid will travel to Granada on Sunday, 1.30am as they look to maintain their perfect start to the season. Hayley Raso came off the bench during the Champion’s League midweek and is expected to be available for the league.

Australian viewers can catch all of the Liga F action for free on the DAZN YouTube Channel.

USA

The San Diego Wave must beat Racing Louisville in the upcoming final game of the season, and hope the Portland Thorns drop points, in order to finish top of the NWSL regular season table. The game will take place on Monday, 8am AEDT. Emily van Egmond is expected to start in midfield and play a key role, both this weekend and for the upcoming finals series as well.

Australians can catch all of the NWSL action live and free on their website.