Invincible frontrunners in England, France - WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
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Manchester City finished off their season with an unbeaten record in England, while Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain have made perfect starts to their respective campaigns. It was not such good news for Turbine Potsdam who saw their 100 per cent run ended, while Switzerland’s FC Zurich continue to suffer through a rare form slump in pursuit of a sixth league title.
England: Unconquerable City celebrate
Newly-crowned champions Manchester City celebrated in style by completing their league campaign undefeated. A 1-1 draw at home against Birmingham City did little to dampen the party, with Manchester City winning the League Cup over the same opponent just a month earlier. “Looking forward, it will be 10 times harder – it always is, “ said City forward Toni Duggan in reference to next year’s title defence. “People says it’s hard to retain it, but with the squad we’ve got we can do big things in this women’s game and in the Champions League as well.”
Second-placed Chelsea laboured to a 3-2 win over Reading, while Arsenal kept alive their slim hopes of overhauling the Blues and claiming the second UEFA Women’s Champions League ticket. The Gunners’ 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers Belles was a personal triumph for England striker Jodie Taylor who returned from long-term injury by collecting a second-half double off the bench. Meanwhile, Yeovil Town guaranteed themselves promotion with a match in hand.
Top three: Manchester City (42 points), Chelsea (34), Arsenal (29)
Germany: Turbine stutter, Bayern lurk
Unheralded Freiburg remain the unlikely team wedged among the Germany’s big names after six rounds. The side from Germany’s south-west proved their credentials on Sunday by ending the perfect start of leaders Turbine Potsdam. Lina Magull was the difference with her double enough for a 2-1 scoreline, despite Elise Kellond-Knight scoring another spectacular free-kick reprising her effort from a fortnight earlier. Bayern Munich continue to revive after their slow start with a 3-1 win over Duisburg, though the star-studded champions have netted just eight times in six matches. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg and 1.FFC Frankfurt were unable to produce any goals of their own in a contest between two major rivals of recent years.
Top three: Turbine Potsdam (15), Freiburg, Wolfsburg (both 14)
France: Champs, challengers joust
Ambitious Paris Saint-Germain continued their bright start to the season to remain neck-and-neck with Lyon, whose unbroken hold on the title stretches all the way back to 2007. While the frontrunners are locked together with six wins from as many starts, Lyon have already built up a massive goal difference, and that was reflected in their respective wins on the weekend. Eugenie Le Sommer hit a second-half treble as Lyon put Guingamp to the sword with a 9-1 victory, while PSG ended the unbeaten run of Montpellier thanks only to a lone Marie-Antoinette Katoto strike.
Top three: Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain (both 18), Montpellier (15)
Switzerland: Champs denied again
Swiss champions FC Zurich warmed up for next week’s intriguing Women’s Champions League tie against Lyon with another stumble – this time 2-2 at mid-table Young Boys. Indeed, Zurich needed an injury-time equaliser from Patricia Willi to earn a share of the spoils though they still have a match in hand on their rivals. In contrast, leaders FC Neunkirch made it ten from ten with their 2-0 win over Luzern built around a double from Amelia Pietrangelo.
Top three: FC Neunkirch (30), Basel (24), Zurich (18)