It is a week of Cup ties across England, France and Sweden this weekend, and as always, CommBank Matildas are set to feature across the fixtures.
Read our preview of all of the Matildas Abroad action below.
England
The Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals feature take up this weekend’s fixtures in England. Australian fans will be able to watch these games live and free via the FA Player, simply sign up for an account to access the games.
On Saturday, 11pm AEDT, Liverpool host Leicester City. It is set to be an evenly contested match – the teams have met twice this season for two 2-1 results, with one win apiece. Teagan Micah will hope to feature for Liverpool between the sticks for the first time since January. On the other side of the equation, Courtney Nevin and Remy Siemsen will be available to attempt to lift the Foxes to the semi-finals.
Brighton & Hove Albion will take on Manchester United on Sunday, 4.15am AEDT. United will come into the game as favourites but will certainly be wary of a Brighton side who drew with them in the WSL earlier this season. The teams met at the semi-final stage of the cup last year – It took an 89th-minute winner from Rachel Williams for United to get over the line on that occasion. It is unknown if Charlie Rule will be available for the Seagulls, continuing her recovery from injury.
Everton will be up against the odds when they take on Chelsea on Monday, 12am AEDT. Chelsea have defeated them by three goals on both occasions they have met in the WSL this season, and few would predict a different result this time around. Clare Wheeler will be one of those tasked with causing an upset for the Toffees, playing mostly in her preferred central midfield spot as of late.
Finally, Charli Grant’s Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester City on Monday, 2am AEDT. City have already knocked Spurs out of one Cup this season – the Conti Cup in February – and will be aiming to do so again on Monday morning. Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy will hope to gain more minutes, as both have been starting from the bench in recent WSL fixtures.
France
All three CommBank Matildas in France will be involved in the Coupe de France féminine semi-finals this weekend.
On Sunday, 3.45am AEDT, Ellie Carpenter’s Lyon will take on Fleury. Lyon will be heavy favourites but won’t take anything for granted – cup football is so beloved, after all, for being so unpredictable. Carpenter will be available for the French champions and will likely start at right-back.
Sarah Hunter and Clare Hunt will face off in the second semi-final – the Paris Derby between Paris FC and PSG - on Monday, 1am AEDT. It is a game sure to be full of drama as the fierce rivals battle it out for a place in the Cup final. Both Australians will be available. Hunter has been building her minutes for Paris FC recently, and Hunt is one of the first-choice centre-backs for PSG, so expect to see at least some Australian involvement on Monday morning.
Sweden
BK Häcken host Vaxjo DFF on Sunday, 1am AEDT to begin their Swedish Cup journey. It represents their first competitive football since advancing from their UEFA Women’s Champions League group in January. Aivi Luik is their first-choice centre-back and is likely to start on Sunday morning.
Kristianstads DFF will take on Lidköpings FK of the second tier on Monday, 2am AEDT in the Swedish Cup group stage. As a team from the top tier, they will be heavy favourites but are unlikely to take their first competitive match of the season for granted. Clare Polkinghorne and Amy Sayer have both been heavily involved in pre-season and are likely to start this weekend.
Spain
Real Madrid women travel to Sevilla in the Primera División on Sunday, 4.30am AEDT. A win would increase the gap between them in second and third-place Levante, but league leaders Barcelona seem far out of reach. Hayley Raso will be available and will hope to build on her national team form for her club side.