Tottenham Hotspur face Arsenal in north London derby in the Women’s Super League, in what is the stand-out game in this weekend’s fixtures.
North London Derby Headlines Women’s Super League
Tottenham Hotspur Host Arsenal in Women’s Super League North London Derby
Tottenham Hotspur face Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in one of three Saturday games this weekend.
Spurs head into the match looking to arrest a worrying slide in form, which has seen them fail to pick up a win in their last six games.
They most recently shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City after Siri Worm’s brilliant opening goal from a free-kick was cancelled out by Gemma Evans’ header.
Spurs sit eighth in the table with 17 points from 17 games heading into the north London derby in the Women’s Super League.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are experiencing a resurgence in form and head into the derby looking for a fourth consecutive victory.
The Gunners were 2-0 winners over Manchester United last time out to move within three points of the Red Devils in third, and have the added advantage of a game in hand over Casey Stoney’s side.
Joe Montemurro’s team will be targeting another three points to continue their charge for a top-three finish and Champions League qualification.
Prediction: 0-3
Arsenal now have the bit between their teeth following that recent win over Manchester United. It is hard to see Tottenham putting up too much of a fight here in the Women’s Super League north London derby.
Manchester United Host West Ham United
The weekend’s action gets underway in what is set to be a historic occasion for Stoney’s team, as United’s women grace the Old Trafford turf for the first time.
The Red Devils have had a bruising past few weeks in the Women’s Super League, losing three of their last four matches – a run of form that has hindered their hopes of finishing in the top three.
Champions League qualification remains firmly in their sights though and they face a West Ham side that has slumped to the bottom of the table.
The Hammers are desperately trying to cling onto their Women’s Super League status, and have registered just two wins from their 15 league games to date.
They are currently winless in their last six games and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City last time out.
Prediction: 4-0
A big reaction is expected from Manchester United this weekend, and the players will want to seize the opportunity of playing at Old Trafford for this first time. West Ham could be in for a tough day in the north-west.
Manchester City Take on Reading
Manchester City welcome Reading to the Academy Stadium looking to bounce back from a 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Barcelona on March 24.
The result has been a blot on an otherwise outstanding run of form for City, who have been imperious on the domestic front in recent weeks, winning each of their last ten Women’s Super League games.
They are firmly on Chelsea’s coattails in the title race and sit just two points adrift of the league leaders.
Reading head into the contest having won just two of their previous 14 games, but are sitting comfortably in seventh with 20 points from 17 games.
Prediction: 4-1
Like their Manchester rivals, a response is expected from City. Gareth Taylor’s side have everything to play for and will be the heavy favourites here, but the injury-enforced absence of captain Steph Houghton could give Reading a chance to nick a goal.
Sunday Fixtures
Brighton & Hove Albion Welcome Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Everton to The People’s Pension Stadium aiming for a record-extending fifth consecutive Women’s Super League victory.
The feel-good factor has increased week-by-week on the south coast, and Hope Powell’s team have proved that the stunning 2-1 win over Chelsea wasn’t a freak result after securing subsequent wins over West Ham, Tottenham and Aston Villa respectively.
Everton have enjoyed a fine season under Willie Kirk and sit one place above Brighton with 25 points from 17 games.
The ten-point gap between themselves and Manchester United means Champions League qualification is probably out of reach, but a highly-respectable fifth-place finish remains firmly in their sights.
Prediction: 1-0
This is a close one to call and will arguably be Brighton’s toughest test since meeting Chelsea seven weeks ago. But Powell’s team are on a roll, and a narrow victory for the Seagulls seems to be a good shout here.
Chelsea Play Aston Villa
Chelsea’s fight for three trophies continues with the visit of a relegation-threatened Aston Villa side to Kingsmeadow.
Like Manchester City, the Blues were also in midweek Champions League action, but were victorious in their quarter-final first-leg tie – they overcame Wolfsburg 2-1 in Budapest.
They are now unbeaten in each of their last eight games in all competitions since that shock 2-1 defeat to Brighton on February 7 and lead the Women’s Super League table by two points.
The situation is far more precarious for Villa, who have now lost three Women’s Super League games in a row since beating Tottenham 1-0 on February 6.
Marcus Bignot’s side currently sit 10th with ten points from 15 games – one more than bottom club West Ham.
Prediction: 5-0
Chelsea are in relentless form at the moment and it is hard to see Villa putting up much of a fight in this one. The West Midlands side could be in for a torrid afternoon here.
Birmingham City v Bristol City Concludes a Weekend Which Starts With a North London Derby
Birmingham City take on Bristol City in a big bottom-of-the-table clash at Damson Park.
Just two places and two points currently separate the sides – the Blues have a slender advantage over their West Country rivals heading into this one and sit ninth with 12 points from 16 games.
It has been anything but plain sailing for Carla Ward’s side in recent weeks though, who are on an eight-match winless run since beating Villa 1-0 in a second-city derby on November 14.
Bristol City have given themselves more than a fighting chance of survival under interim head coach Matt Beard and produced a battling display in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham last time out.
They have also fared well in their last two away Women’s Super League matches against Birmingham, winning both games 1-0.
Prediction: 1-1
This is another close game to call, and a draw seems to be a likely outcome here. The result would not do either side many favours in what is a very congested bottom half of the table.
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