In Australia, Melbourne defended their Westfield W-League title in style. The leading pair in France and Spain continued to dominate, while the pacesetters in Belgium and Italy have now built up sizeable leads. FIFA.com takes a look at the latest results in women’s club football.
Australia: Melbourne City champions again Melbourne City became the first team in the history of the Westfield W-League to win consecutive league titles. The Victoria club achieved this feat by securing an away victory over Perth Glory in the Grand Final, in front of a record crowd of nearly 5,000. Player-coach Jessica Fishlock, who had been instrumental at the semi-final stage, played a key role once again by opening the scoring. Melbourne, and their goalkeeper, Lydia Williams, then proceeded to keep Perth’s attacks at bay, before Beverly Yanez sealed the points – and the championship – with a speculative effort.**
Final: Perth Glory 0-2 Melbourne City, Sunday 12 February, nib Stadium, Perth
France: Goals galore In France, the results have a familiar feel to them every week, as Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon continued to rack up victories. This week, the former comfortably disposed of Saint-Etienne (4-0) by racing to a 3-0 lead within the opening 26 minutes, while the latter relied on their formidable attacking prowess – the most proficient in the league – to see off Juvisy (5-2). Although Alex Morgan was unable to notch her first goal for the club, the confident-looking Ada Hegerberg took charge by scoring another brace in just six minutes. Montpellier, meanwhile, picked up three hard-earned points in Bordeaux (2-1) and continue to hang onto the coattails of the leading pair.
Top three: Paris Saint-Germain (39 points), Olympique Lyon (36), Montpellier (34)
Spain: Two-way race at the top Valencia beat Fundacion Albacete away (4-0) courtesy of a double from Maria Paz Vilas Dono, who continues to do all she can to get back into the good books of Spain coach Jorge Vilda. The result saw the now third-placed club leapfrog Levante, who could only draw at Zaragoza (1-1). Atletico Madrid continued to impress, running out 2-1 winners at Espanyol, while Barcelona never looked troubled in their victory (3-0) away to Real Sociedad. Elsewhere, 4,000 fans braved the rain to watch Sporting de Huelva get the better of Oiartzun (2-0).**
Top three: Atletico Madrid (48 points), Barcelona (44), Valencia (37)
Elsewhere In Portugal, Sporting Braga were unable to keep their goals-per-game average at its previous level (nearly five) but still managed to pull off a solid 2-0 triumph over Boavista and take one step closer to the title. Braga are ahead of Sporting CP on goal difference, even after the latter’s thrashing (8-0) of Albergaria. In Italy, Fiorentina made light work of third-placed Verona (5-0), but second-placed Brescia, who beat Res Rome (3-0), managed to stay in touch with the leaders. In the Belgian Super League, pacesetters Standard Liege defeated Anderlecht (3-2) in Brussels to extend their lead over their old rivals and Gent – who won in Leuven (3-0) to move into second spot on goal difference – to seven points.