Matildas Abroad Preview: FA Women’s Cup Final, Toppserien must-win matchday

The next four days will be remembered by several Westfield Matildas as the weekend silverware was either won or lost.

A cup final in England headlines a weekend where three of our Aussies must claim victory for a shot at the Toppserien title.

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England

All eyes will be on Wembley Stadium, with the 50th FA Women’s Cup Final taking place with Hayley Raso’s side Everton facing off against current cup holders Manchester City (Sunday 1:30am AEDT).

Raso will hope to become only the second Australian to win an FA Women’s Cup, after Taryn Rockall in 1999. The Merseyside outfit have started their campaign far stronger than their opponents, however in a cup final, it is very much anyone’s game.

WATCH: Hayley Raso and Tim Cahill on their Everton connection

READ: FA Cup Final preview - Hayley Raso and Everton chasing Cup glory

The 26-year-old will undoubtedly have plenty of support from Australia, with many in her family already showing off their Toffees blue for the match.

 

Because of the cup final, all FA Women’s Super League matches have been postponed until next weekend. However, that didn’t stop our Westfield Matildas getting amongst the action over the last seven days.

Sam Kerr showcased her signature backflips in training, exciting Westfield Matilda and Chelsea supporters with the prospect of seeing her acrobatics in a Blues shirt once the season resumes.

 

Norway

With only three matches remaining, the Toppserien title race has tightened up dramatically. The top four sides all play each other in a must-watch matchday, with several Aussies in the running for silverware and European qualification.

On an incredible ten match unbeaten run, Clare Polkinghorne and Katrina Gorry’s side Avaldsnes are now one point from ladder leaders Valeranga.

Tied on points with second-place Rosenborg, Avaldsnes play their joint opponents away from home (Sunday 11pm AEDT) with a loss possibly ending any hope of a championship.

READ: Polkinghorne in mix to cap off inaugural Norwegian season with silverware

LSK Kvinner and Karly Roestbakken lost their last match to Avadsnes and Roestbakken's fellow Aussie teammates. This weekend, if LSK want to keep pace with the top three, they must travel to and defeat top-of-the-table Valerenga (Monday 2am AEDT).

France

Two Westfield Matildas will face off in a heavyweight Feminine Division 1 match between third place Montpellier and league leaders Olympique Lyonnais (Sunday 7am AEDT).

European and French champions Olympique Lyonnais have started the new campaign well, winning all six of their league matches. Ellie Carpenter has now cemented her spot in the fullback position and will hope to continue her fine form.

 

On the other side, Montpellier and Mary Fowler are entering this match having won four of their last five matches. A Montpellier victory would narrow the gap between the sides to only two points.

 

Laura Brock and Guingamp sit precariously in the relegation zone after six matches. A win however, at home to fellow battlers Le Havre (Sunday 12:30am AEDT), would be enough to see Brock’s side climb back into safety.

Spain

After recording their first point of the campaign, Real Betis will be looking to push away from the relegation zone. That task will be significantly harder, with Jenna McCormick’s side hosting Spanish giants and current league leaders FC Barcelona (Saturday 10pm AEDT).

McCormick’s cross-town rivals Sevilla are similarly placed, with only one point separating Aivi Luik’s side from the relegation zone. However, they face a far easier proposition, with the Seville outfit playing host to last place Sporting de Huelva (Sunday 11:30pm AEDT).

Alex Chidiac’s side Atletico Madrid are on the opposite side of the spectrum, sitting in second place and playing at home to relegation battlers Logrono (Monday 2:15am AEDT). Atleti on form are expected to win comfortably and must win to keep touch with Barcelona, who sit two points above them.

Netherlands

After scoring her first PSV Eindhoven goal last matchday, Kyah Simon will hope to double her effort away at last-place Excelsior (Sunday 10:15pm AEDT).

PSV, with the help of Simon and her Westfield Matildas teammate Amy Harrison, sit second and have closed the gap on arch-rivals Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie.

Sweden

With three games remaining, European qualification is now out of reach for Emily Gielnik and Vittsjo. However, in all competitions, remarkably Gielnik’s side have gone 10 matches without losing.

They will look to continue that run against third-place Kristianstad (Monday 12am AEDT).