This is a Chelsea Women predicted lineup for their Women’s Super League clash with Leicester City Women on March 5. This midweek fixture offers the Blues a chance to redeem one of their few disappointments of the season as these two sides drew in December just before the winter break. Sonia Bompastor is managing some injuries as well as a hefty schedule of fixtures in March which will likely cause some interesting changes to the starting eleven.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs Leicester for WSL Tie
How Chelsea Women Have Lined Up Recently
Hannah Hampton has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the team in the absence of Zecira Musovic and now Femke Liefting. Sandy Baltimore, Naomi Girma, Millie Bright, Maelys Mpome, Ashley Lawrence, Nathalie Bjorn, and Lucy Bronze have played in defence. A recent formation switch saw usual wingers Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Baltimore play at wing back.
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In the defensive midfield slots, or central two against Brighton, it is usually any pairing of Keira Walsh, Sjoeke Nusken, Erin Cuthbert, Wieke Kaptein, and Oriane Jean-Francois. Aggie Beever-Jones, Guro Reiten, Mayra Ramirez, Cat Macario, Maika Hamano, Baltimore, and Kaneryd all compete for spots in the attack, either as a front four or most recently as an attacking trio.
Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics
After some nervy wins the Blues finally crashed back to earth a little bit with a 2-2 draw away to the Seagulls at the weekend. Bompastor experimented with a 5-2-3 style setup for Girma’s debut with Bronze moving to a centre-back role. This was a change from the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 tactic that Chelsea have used all season and didn’t look like a worthwhile gamble as they were swarmed by the advanced pressing by Brighton.
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Despite the recent poor defensive displays the team are still on course for an invincible campaign with only four points dropped in total in the league and wins in every match in every other competition. The squad’s goalscoring output has helped fire them to a number of big wins as they currently boast the best goal difference in the entire WSL as well as the highest goal tally.
Chelsea Women Injuries to Consider
The injury list is piling up for the manager with PremierInjuries currently counting a total of 12 absentees. Brooke Aspin, Sophie Ingle, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jorja Fox, Sam Kerr (not listed by PI but not fit to play yet), and Mia Fishel are all recovering from ACL-related injuries. Hamano, Cuthbertm Bjorn and Reiten all came back from the international break with knocks while Girma and Walsh (also not listed by PI) were withdrawn early against the Seagulls.
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In addition, Mpome was out of the squad entirely at the weekend which indicates she isn’t fit. Goalkeeper Liefting got injured without playing a single minute following her deadline day arrival while Musovic is out for the season due to her pregnancy.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs Leicester
It’s almost throwing darts at a dartboard this time with a cup tie at the weekend and a ridiculous four game run against Manchester City upcoming there will likely be some rotation here and rest for players with slight injuries.
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GK – Hannah Hampton
LB – Sandy Baltimore
CB – Millie Bright
CB – Naomi Girma
RB – Ashley Lawrence
DM – Oriane Jean-Francois
DM – Sjoeke Nusken
LW – Lauren James
CAM – Cat Macario
RW – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
ST – Mayra Ramirez
