Clinton shines for Man United, Chelsea hit seven: Girls's soccer weekly

After over 5 years of speak that the hole between the highest groups and the remaining within the Women’s Super League (WSL) is closing, the weekend’s tight outcomes lastly mirrored the league’s progress — save for Chelsea‘s 7-0 drubbing of newly promoted Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere throughout Europe, champions thrashing minnows was the order of the day as 10-woman Bayern Munich dispatching Werder Bremen, Roma brushed apart Napoli, Barcelona hit Granada for ten, and Lyon scored six towards Strasbourg.

Right here, our specialists react to the largest moments in European girls’s soccer.

Clinton shines for Man United once more

Grace Clinton returned to Manchester United from a profitable mortgage spell at Tottenham over the summer time and has seamlessly built-in into Marc Skinner’s squad. The 21-year-old has began the 2024-25 marketing campaign in one of the best ways doable, scoring in every of her first two video games to assist United safe back-to-back wins.

Though she signed for United in 2022, Clinton solely made her debut final weekend, having hung out on mortgage with Bristol City and Spurs respectively. However, now she is again in Manchester, she has established herself in United’s midfield, bringing creativity and imaginative and prescient that might show pivotal in avoiding a repeat of final season’s fifth-place end.

There was a worry amongst followers that Clinton can be confined to the bench as soon as she returned. Nevertheless, her spectacular begin is proving precisely why United fought so exhausting to maintain her and why she needs to be main United’s title cost. — Emily Keogh

Chelsea hit seven to spice up GD

Since Sonia Bompastor took cost this summer time, Chelsea have netted eight WSL targets and conceded none. Actually, after two video games, Man United are the one different crew with consecutive clear sheets thus far this season.

However regardless of the spectacular outcomes — a 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, paying homage to Emma Hayes’ Chelsea sides, and a 1-0 win over Villa on the opening day — Bompastor admits the Blues stay a “work in progress” and says there are a lot areas needing refinement.

Given how final season’s title (their fifth consecutive one) relied on aim distinction, Chelsea’s early goal-scoring cost may very well be essential when the 22-game season ends in Could. Certainly, with rivals Man Metropolis, Arsenal and Man United all sealing tight 1-0 wins throughout the WSL over the weekend, the scientific show towards bottom-club Palace will solely profit Bompastor’s facet in what guarantees to be a detailed title race.

Newly promoted Palace have now let in 11 targets from their two video games, so the WSL title contenders will all be seeking to take benefit when that fixture arrives. — EK

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Lucy Bronze scores on completely positioned end to double Chelsea’s lead

Lucy Bronze offers Chelsea a 2-0 lead with a beautiful aim from simply contained in the field vs. Crystal Palace.

Frankfurt present up

In the end, Germany’s perpetual third-placed crew, Eintracht Frankfurt, lastly confirmed their finest towards a high facet after years of frustration. Beating Wolfsburg 3-0, the hosts scored both facet of the break and left little room for his or her opponents to get again into the tie.

It was a efficiency that has been a very long time coming for Frankfurt. From the primary whistle the crew had been aggressive on and off the ball, with their counter-press not permitting Wolfsburg to construct in their very own half, and their assault sliced by means of again and again. Nicole Anyomi starred with a brace, but it surely was the collective crew effort from the Eagles at each ends of the pitch that maybe confirmed a blueprint for beating the seven-time Frauen-Bundesliga winners.

Wolfsburg would have been drained after their efforts in UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying towards Fiorentina 4 days earlier than the match, however nothing actually labored for Tommy Stroot’s crew. Alexandra Popp appeared like a participant who’d been carrying a crew on her again for years; Svenja Huth was absent; Jule Brand was again to being a stifled ball of frustration; and the double-pivot of Janina Minge and Lena Lattwein was simply parted in midfield.

Frankfurt did all the things proper, however we have now been right here earlier than with the Eagles. They’ve proven flashes of what they’ll do, adopted by limp performances that hold the hole between themselves and the highest two open. The important thing can be how they kick on. — Sophie Lawson

Fast hits

ELEVEN. Barcelona batter Granada — After their 1-0 win over Sevilla final week, Barcelona made certain to take their frustrations out on Granada on Saturday, beating the lowly facet 10-1 with seven totally different gamers on the scoresheet and three targets in a four-minute interval simply earlier than half-time. The Liga F champions appeared again to their finest however the opposition did not provide a lot in the way in which of fightback; it was a great win but it surely was a simple win. Ornella Vignola’s comfort aim simply earlier than the hour was a belter although.

TEN. Roma misplaced in transition — Roma are again to profitable methods, because the 3-1 win at house to Napoli was their second successive within the league this season, but it surely was additionally their seventh-consecutive aggressive recreation through which they conceded. The Serie A champions are scoring sufficient for it to not matter in the meanwhile (in contrast to of their attracts towards Lazio and Sassuolo), however they can not cease letting in targets in the meanwhile. The Giallorosse look slack in transitions and battle to snuff out assaults as they construct towards them. And for a crew that leans into being fluid in assault, a scarcity of rigidity on the again is a recipe for catastrophe.

NINE. Horan on the double, once more — Lately promoted Strasbourg had been unlikely to supply a lot resistance to Lyon and that is just about how the sport performed out with the French champions dominating as they so routinely do in a 6-0 win. There have been some straightforward targets and a few good targets; Tabitha Chawinga opened her account for her new membership, Melchie Dumornay continued to flourish beneath Joe Montemurro, whereas USWNT star Lindsey Horan bagged a brace for the second week operating.

EIGHT. Brighton trying vibrant — There was no shock win for Brighton vs. Manchester Metropolis’s on the Joie Stadium this time round, however the Seagulls did greater than sit behind the ball and defend for his or her lives. Sure, the guests nonetheless needed to dig in and defend as any crew would towards Metropolis’s bursting assault, however they’d a greater construction off the ball and it appeared they understood their when to counter. It is nonetheless early days for Dario Vidošić’s crew, but issues are trying vibrant.

SEVEN. Leverkusen maintain on — Third-placed Leverkusen want to sneak right into a European berth in Germany and, at 2-0 up with half an hour gone towards Hoffenheim, the hosts had been cruising to a snug three factors. Nevertheless, they panicked a bit after Selina Cerci’s aim simply earlier than the hour mark and nearly let TSG again into the sport. Leverkusen held on, simply. However they’re going to have to see off video games higher in the event that they wish to seal a spot in Europe.

SIX. The Stanway trademark — Groups not often rating three targets after dropping a participant to a crimson card however Georgia Stanway’s strike from outdoors the field — the one sort of aim the England worldwide appears to attain — settled Bayern Munich again all the way down to win 4-0 over Werder Bremen after dropping Glodis Viggosdottir. Bremen might and may have finished higher — no crew ought to give Stanway house to line these photographs up – however their defence had been left red-faced after Bayern netted an an identical double inside two minutes.

FIVE. Everton vs accidents — With the affirmation that Aurora Galli suffered an ACL harm of their first recreation final week, the very last thing Everton would have wished to see was the stretcher being introduced out once more of their second towards Man United. This time it was summer time signing Inma Gabarro who took a heavy fall and was unable to depart the pitch beneath her personal steam. Two weeks into the season and déjà vu is already setting in for the Toffees after final season’s battle towards accidents. The hosts battled effectively to solely lose 1-0 however are nonetheless in search of a primary win.

FOUR. Smith’s solo strike — Liverpool can be hoping that club-record signing Olivia Smith has just a few extra targets like her opener towards West Ham up her sleeve. The 20-year outdated’s seventh-minute roller was an actual second of high quality however, having roundly impressed to complete fourth final season, Liverpool fell right into a lull and allowed the house facet to equalise late on. The important thing query for the Reds is hold issues recent.

THREE. Actual on the march — Might it’s? Are Real Madrid lastly enjoying effectively? With six wins from six (together with within the Champions League), issues are trying good for Las Blancas and though there are nonetheless lulls in video games, the assault is doing all the things it guarantees. There’s something very plug and play in regards to the Madrid facet this season, because the depth within the squad permits for straightforward rotation and people to step up when wanted. Though UD Tenerife goalkeeper Noelia Ramos’ error-filled 90 minutes opened the door for the guests, they had been pleased to stroll by means of it and seal a 4-1 win.

TWO. Foxes within the combine — Like Brighton, Leicester’s off-the-ball form and understanding of when to strike on the counter is spectacular and the Foxes gave Arsenal greater than a bit of headache of their 1-0 defeat. Leicester’s defence was too slack to let Frida Maanum’s second-half winner in and the hosts might want to work on their ending too, though they did name Gunners goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar into motion greater than as soon as.

ONE. Good issues come to those that wait — Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa was an exciting finish to the WSL weekend. Spurs had been 1-0 up earlier than the 78th minute and staring down the barrel of a 2-1 defeat by the 88th as Aston Villa took benefit of some poor defending down the appropriate facet to take the lead. However then Beth England struck an equaliser within the 96th minute from Amanda Nildén cross to share the factors. The story of the sport was of resilience: Villa did effectively to stay to Robert de Pauw’s imaginative and prescient and carve out these late two targets, whereas Spurs by no means gave as much as seal a last-gasp equaliser. — SL.