FIFA.com takes in the latest in women’s club football where Europe’s various leagues are building towards exciting finales, or starting out on fresh campaigns.
In Germany, Bayern Munich are edging towards silverware, while Denmark’s big two continue to joust. At the other of the spectrum, new seasons dawn in both Sweden and England.
Germany: Bayern maintain momentum Bayern Munich’s seemingly inexorable march to a second successive title appears unstoppable after the champions maintained their 12-point advantage at the top with a 5-1 home win over Jena. Prolific striker Vivianne Miedema continued her goalscoring form with a hat-trick. The main fare in the 16th round, however, was in Wolfsburg where the home side came from behind to see off European champions 1.FFC Frankfurt. It took until 11 minutes from fulltime before the visitors fell behind as Norway star Caroline Hansen scored the second goal of her brace. Elsewhere, there was rare good news for struggling big guns Turbine Potsdam, where a treble from Svenja Huth helped the home side overpower Bayer Leverkusen with a 6-0 scoreline. Top three: Bayern Munich (44 points), Wolfsburg (32), Frankfurt (31)
Sweden: Early season glory Rosengard have warmed up for Wednesday’s headline-grabbing UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final against holders 1.FFC Frankfurt by grabbing the first silverware of the Swedish season. The Damallsvenskan champions edged a 2-1 win over Linkoping to take home the local Super Cup. Defender Emma Berglund and Netherland’s international forward Lieke Martens scored the all-important goals.
England: Blues lead charge to last-eight Ahead of this week’s league commencement, Women’s FA Cup holders Chelsea have taken the first step towards regaining their crown with a 4-1 win at Doncaster Rovers Belles to reach the quarter-finals. The Yorkshire side, however, made it difficult on their own turf, going a goal to the good early on before the Londoners stormed back. Last season’s finalists Notts County beat Durham 3-1 on the back of a Rachel Williams double. Arsenal did it the hard way as they needed penalties to see off Birmingham City, with Jordan Nobbs converting the deciding penalty for a 5-3 shoot-out victory. Perhaps the biggest tie of the round saw big-name Manchester City see off Liverpool thanks to a goal in each half from substitutes Georgia Stanway and Nikita Parris.
Denmark: Brondby bounce back The second half of the season is gaining momentum in Denmark following the resumption last weekend from a lengthy mid-winter break. And, unlike the previous weekend, it was very much business as normal for the two clubs who have shared the past 14 league titles. Fortuna Hjorring continued their undefeated campaign by easing past Vejle 5-0 to ensure they start the play-offs as the top ranked side. Champions Brondby cast aside last week’s costly and unexpected defeat in emphatic fashion, by steamrolling over the top of third-placed Skovbakken with a remarkable 8-0 victory. The coming week will see Fortuna and Brondby try and win through to the Danish Cup final at the expense of OB and Kolding respectively. Top three: Fortuna Hjorring (36), Brondby (33), Skovbakken (26)