Title Races That's Got My Heart Pacing
The goalpost: An international window, transfer drama and baby signings
Hello! Sending this one out from my kitchen table, where I’ve been watching the Glasgow City - Celtic game, gasping and gagging at the scenes from this game. The goals! The drama! Check out the highlights when yous have a chance because it’s proper entertaining.
I will reflect more on the trials of Sam Kerr and Jenni Hermoso, that text comes out beginning of next week. But we can note that Kerr was found not guilty! Which, honestly, thank fucking god because another outcome would have had me question a lot. I also want to note the Mapi León situation, which has created a lot of discourse, shall not go unnoticed (Frankie de la Cretaz has a good article on it). I’ve been following the situation as it has unfolded over the last few days and it has whipped up such a frenzy as to have taken on a life of its own.
Obviously I’m condemning all transphobic, racist, and sexual abuse. I try my best to be wary and critical of sources. I also think there are valid questions to be asked about the timing of this incident blowing up to these proportions (as the Spanish football federation stands before the court defending itself their biggest insurgent, León, does something that can be used to distract from the case at hand.) But lest we forget, the online world can be vile and fickle, and I think the position of Espanyol’s Daniela Caracas is something to not lose sight of in this story - at this point, whether or not León actually did touch her inappropriately, or is found guilty of doing so, the damage is already done because Caracas has been receiving disgusting online harassment as a result of the incident.
INTERNATIONAL WINDOW CALL UPS CAUSE HEADACHE: We have another international window coming up and this one will be very interesting. European sides are preparing for the Euros and will be using this opportunity to test potential new player partnerships and work out any kinks. On the other side of the Atlantic, Australia, Japan, Colombia and USA will go into tournament mode as SheBelieves Cup kicks off on February 20.
There’s been a few surprising inclusions and omissions in the teams. Manchester City defender Rebecca Knaak has gotten her first senior call up in a long time under new head coach Christian Wück, following a successful move to Manchester that’s already seen her get on the scoresheet and help her team advance to the final of the Subway Cup. Chloe Kelly, a vital part of England’s last Euros squad, misses out on a spot in the squad, coming down to a lack of playing time. Someone who’s seeing the fruit of their labour after switching club in search of more playing time is Nikita Parris, who has been loving life in Brighton and has now received her first call up in two years by Sarina Wiegman.
Emma Hayes continues to experiment with her US side, which is very refreshing. Youngsters like Gisele Thompson, Lily Yohannes and Ally Sentnor keep getting their chances to earn valuable experience, and Catarina Macario returns after her injury woes.
Spain’s turmoil continues. Montse Tomé announced her squad for the upcoming window on Wednesday—just two days after testifying in Luis Rubiales’ court case at his own request. She recalled Irene Paredes, who had been left out in the autumn, and Laia Codina, but omitted Real Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez and Jenni Hermoso. Alexia Putellas was also absent, though due to a minor injury. Notably, all these players had testified against Rubiales. This raises some ethical questions about the selection process. With the trial now concluded, a verdict is expected during the international window, adding another layer of tension to an already fractured dressing room.
Sweden, who has just presented they’ve chosen Tony Gustavsson, the former Australia WNT head coach, as Peter Gerhardsson’s successor, has a few absentees in their team too, with the likes of Anna Anvegård, Madelen Janogy och Rosa Kafaji not available.
MUŠOVIĆ PREGNANT: Chelsea goalkeeper Zećira Mušović has announced that she is expecting her first baby, meaning she’s unavailable to play for Sweden at the Euros this summer.
Really exciting and happy news for Mušović. It also poses an interesting situation for Sweden and the constant question of the starting goalkeeper.
Who will take the chance to solidify their spot in goals? Obviously Häcken’s Jennifer Falk, who has been competing with Musovic about the chance to be first-choice goalkeeper, is now a shoe-in for the spot in the national team, having already gained a lot of valuable experience. Third choice goalkeeper, Vålerenga’s Tove Enblom, and Norrköping’s Sofia Hjern have also been called up.
Mušović’s absence will perhaps be somewhat less noticed in the Chelsea starting eleven, as Sonia Bompastor tend to favour Hannah Hampton for league games. The Swedish keeper had been playing in the Champions League fixtures but as for the last stretch of the competition, Bompastor will have to call on her other keeper to step up.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL LINE-UPS: Talking about Chelsea and the Champions League, since the group stages were concluded back in January, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the draw to see the match ups, and it came out as follows:
Real Madrid - Arsenal
Manchester City - Chelsea
Wolfsburg - Barcelona
Bayern München - Lyon
The amount of times Manchester City and Chelsea will face off in March? FOUR TIMES, in 13 days. Lmao.
The winner of the Wolfsburg - Barcelona tie will play the winner of the Manchester City - Chelsea game in a semifinal, meaning that the English champions have a tough path ahead of them to the final. Eight-time UWCL winners Lyon, by comparison, has a more straightforward journey, although nothing can be taken for granted.
LAST-MINUTE TRANSFER WINDOW ANTICS: Chloe Kelly to Arsenal was the talk of the last 72 hours of the transfer window, with the award for best social media move goes to Arsenal for this video featuring Kelly and Katie McCabe reenacting *that time*.
THOMPSON SISTERS STAY IN THE CITY OF ANGELS: The Angel City FC forward Alyssa and her younger sister, defender Gisele Thompson, have signed contract extensions with Los Angeles-based side Angel City.
As we see a lot of USWNT stars heading for Europe - Jenna Nighswonger left to Arsenal, Naomi Girma went to Chelsea in a world record fee, and Crystal Dunne moves to Paris Saint-Germain (with her two-year-old speaking better French than she does, bonne chance Crystal!) It has been covered a lot by American media, everyone from The Athletic to Attacking Third and CBS have spoken about the USWNT-stars leaving the US for Europe and going another round on the
The sisters, 19 and 20 years old respectively, are breaking the trend however, signing contracts that run through 2028.
THE MOST EXCITING TITLE RACE THIS SEASON? Frauen-Bundesliga is just over the halfway point of their season and low key turning out to be the most exhilarating and competitive league this season. Eintracht Frankfurt has had a glow up, they are first in the table with their top goalscorer Laura Freigang contributing 12 goals in 14 games, and level on points with Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg is trailing three points behind. Bayer Leverkusen is in fourth, five points behind the league leaders.
We were treated to an early top of the table clash, as Frankfurt had a DFB pokal quarter final against Bayern during the week. It was won by the Munich side after extra-time and Momoko Tanikawa scored this stunner of a goal. What a way to reintroduce yourself!
JUICY TITLE RACE YOU SAY? *NEVER* COUNT SCOTLAND OUT: My oh my. No league knows how to do title race drama quite like the Scottish Women’s Premier League, and it is setting up nicely to be another one for the books. Only two points separate the top four going into this game week, with two more games before The Split. League leaders Glasgow City start off the weekend by welcoming Celtic to Petershill Park, the two sides only separated in the table by goal difference.
These two sides know what it’s like to battle out a tight title race. Two years ago, City clinched the title in the most dramatic fashion on the last day. Lauren Davidson's stoppage-time goal secured a 1–0 win for Glasgow City over Rangers at Ibrox, keeping them ahead of Celtic—who briefly held a title-winning position after their home victory over Hearts—while denying Rangers a chance to retain the championship. Last season, it was Celtic’s turn to pull it off. Celtic and Rangers entered the final day tied on points, with Celtic leading on goal difference and only needing to match Rangers' result to win the title, but while Rangers quickly went ahead against Partick Thistle, Celtic struggled to break down Hibernian until Amy Gallacher's 90th-minute goal at Celtic Park sealed their first women's league championship.
The two sides met in an entertaining Scottish Cup tie two weeks ago, where Celtic went ahead but City came back and won the game to advance to the quarter finals. Both teams like to score goals and do so with a certain flair. The sides have rarely been separated by more than one goal. Glasgow City’s American striker Brenna Lovera, has scored 10 goals in 15 games.
But Celtic has Saoirse Noonan and the Irish international has been incredible so far this season, scoring 21 games in 17 games in all competitions.
TED LASSO FOURTH SEASON FOCUSING ON WOMEN’S TEAM? For those of us who love to dip into the universe of Ted Lasso, rumours have been circulating for a while (whether substantiated or merely wishful thinking…) about a new season. Creator and main actor Jason Suidekis has always been clear that he’s gotten to tell the story arc he was looking for with the character Ted Lasso, but the door has been left open for potential other storylines, not the least with one of the last images in the last episode, where we caught a glimpse of what that could be. A simple note saying “Richmond women’s team”.
According to people in the know, it’s now happening! Filming is supposed to start in June this year.