Rare stumble for Wolfsburg, domestic queens shine
There were some mixed results for teams preparing for next weekend’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals in the Old Continent. It is not often that Wolfsburg taste defeat on the domestic stage, but that rare event has helped set up a mouth-watering Frauen Bundesliga title race. Elsewhere, results were more predictable with frontrunners excelling in Denmark, Scotland and Spain.
Germany: Wolfsburg finally reined in
It was a rare sensation for Wolfsburg on Sunday. Undefeated in the league since February last year, the defending champions returned home from Turbine Potsdam with their tails firmly between their legs following a 2-0 defeat. Goals late in the game from Equatorial Guinea star Genoveva Anonma and Natasa Andonova hauled Turbine back into what is looming as a tense finale to the title race over the final two months. However, Wolfsburg remain top after second-placed Bayern Munich spurned an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals, after being held to a surprise scoreless stalemate at struggling Duisburg. Meanwhile, 1.FFC Frankfurt remain ahead of old rivals Turbine on goal difference following a 5-0 win over Herforder, a result built on doubles from Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Sasic.
Top three: Wolfsburg (42 points), Bayern Munich (41), 1.FFC Frankfurt, Turbine Potsdam (both 40)
Denmark: Favourites immediately into the swing
The Danish league is regathering momentum following a lengthy mid-season winter break, and the frontrunners have quickly found their feet. League leaders Brondby and second-placed Fortuna Hjorring - who between them have shared the last 13 league titles – once again underlined their supremacy. Brondby found form ahead of their upcoming Women’s Champions League tie at Linkoping by easing to a 4-1 win over third-placed Kolding, while Fortuna were equally untroubled in disposing of Skovbakken 4-2.
Top three: Brondby (52), Fortuna Hjorring (41), Kolding (29)
Scotland: Champs open in style
Perennial Scottish league queens Glasgow City have opened their domestic campaign in predictably emphatic fashion with a 5-0 win at Hutchison Vale. Suzanne Lappin immediately made an early claim for the top scorers' crown with a treble as the Glaswegians chase their ninth consecutive title. Glasgow can now turn their attention to their historic Women’s Champions League last-eight meeting with Paris Saint-Germain next weekend, which will be the first appearance by a Scottish club in that stage of the competition. Elsewhere, Spartans have a share of top spot after they defeated Forfar Farmington 5-0, while last season’s runners-up Rangers won 4-0 at Hamilton.
Spain: Quartet remain unchallenged
It was a case of as you were in Spain with the top four all easing to wins. Barcelona maintained their healthy advantage at the summit with a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. Beneath the Catalans, a trio of sides - Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao - are involved in what is increasingly looking like a race for second. Second-placed Atletico perhaps had the best result of the three with a 3-1 triumph over fifth-placed Levante.
Top three: Barcelona (63), Atletico Madrid (54), Valencia (53)