Nüsken fills Chelsea’s striker void, PSG kick back into gear،
In another busy weekend for women's football across Europe, Wolfsburg's loss to Hoffenheim was the big surprise. Elsewhere, Chelsea fought back against Arsenal, Levante suffered another draw and the second phase of the Italian season began.
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Nüsken fills Chelsea striker void
Following the loss of star striker Sam Kerr to an ACL injury, one of the problems Chelsea have faced this season is a lack of balance when they don't have a natural center forward on field. Emma Hayes' first option as a false number 9, Lauren James, has shown good adaptability to score goals, but is ultimately not the right type of player to occupy opposing central defenders , because its natural game consists of drifting in complete freedom.
Since losing Mia Fishel to her own ACL injury and signing club record Mayra Ramírez to an unspecified groin/abductor problem, Chelsea have once again found themselves without an obvious striker and their form suffered.
In Friday's 3-1 win over Arsenal in the Women's Super League, Hayes opted for utility player Sjoeke Nüsken – who last week was filling in at centre-back – as the focal point up front. The gamble paid off and not only did Nüsken score a bizarre double, including a shot that deflected off her behind, but she also allowed her teammates to take the positions that kept the Gunners under pressure in what was a vital and dominant victory for the league. leaders.
Liverpool return to winning ways at home
Liverpool's home form took a hit when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Leicester City at Prenton Park last week, extending their run to four games without a win. Indeed, the Reds hadn't won at home since November – although that was largely due to the schedule that had them traveling so much this calendar year.
But Sunday saw a return to winning ways at home as Liverpool stepped up a gear to get the better of West Ham 3-1, on what was a frustrating day for the Irons.
Except for the impact of summer signings Sophie Román Haug and Marie Höbinger, it was a victory that resembled Liverpool's last season, with Ceri Holland and Missy Bo Keans shining for the hosts. And it was a victory that kept the Reds in fifth place, level on points with Manchester United, to endorse their development since returning to the league and suggest more is to come next season.
Villa ranks seventh
It's been a season to forget for Villa so far, as the team that struggled at the top of the table last season have moved further and further away from a European finish this time around. Call it an overcorrection on an overachieving season (as we've seen so often from WSL teams over the years), but the Villainesses' defeat this year was tough and unforgiving.
Yet Villa still managed to find moments to build on and, against an Everton side riddled with chronic injuries, the visitors secured their sixth win of the season to move up to seventh and move away of danger. Kenza Dali, one of last season's best players, scored her first goal of the season, showing just how out of touch Villa's attack has been this year and how much work will be needed over the summer.
Wolfsburg falters
Heading into the weekend with Bayern Munich one point at the top, with a home draw against the Bavarians scheduled for next Saturday, Wolfsburg handicapped themselves with a 2-1 defeat to third-placed Hoffenheim.
After an unbeaten run of 11 competitive matches – a 2-1 loss to Bayern in November – the She Wolves have gathered some momentum and reasserted themselves among Germany's top two. Yet the loss to Hoffenheim is just another indication of Wolfsburg's declining status, with too much polarization between those in the team slowly contemplating retirement and those with promise for the future.
Wolfsburg have plenty of emerging talent, but most of these players are yet to live up to their potential and Bayern have invested well – including €450,000 to sign Wolfsburg midfielder Lena Oberdorf this summer – and are l team that is currently making all the noise. in the German Bundesliga.
Levante loses ground
It was always going to be a difficult season for Levante with reduced budgets and players leaving (like Ramírez to Chelsea) or preparing to leave this summer. With everything happening off the field as a backdrop, maintaining his form and winning consistently to keep his hopes of European qualification alive was always going to be a task.
But against bottom-ranked Sporting Huelva, who have just one win in their 20 league matches this season, Levante faltered once again, surrendering a 1-1 draw that leaves them winless in their last four games.
Still third, the gap to fourth-placed Madrid CFF has been reduced to just one point and the Frogs will feel them and Atletico Madrid breathing down their necks for the rest of the season. At home against Real Betis next time out, Levante will need to pull themselves out of this slump before slipping further.
PSG returns to high gear
Returning to the Champions League midweek and after a near miss against Paris FC in a 3-3 draw in the Coupe de France last time out, Paris Saint-Germain secured a resounding 5-0 victory against Saint-Etienne this weekend. .
In the midst of a hectic season, the clean sheet will be a boost and seeing Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Tabitha Chawinga, Grace Geyoro and Jade Le Guilly on the scoresheet, while ensuring their attacking partnerships work, is the key before a delicate visit to BK Häcken.
Häcken has built his success in the Champions League group stage on his defensive strength and will likely look to frustrate PSG and congest the areas he likes to attack. But with PSG coming off a healthy victory, the French giants should be comfortable asserting themselves and picking apart Häcken's defense.
DellaPeruta sublime for Sampdoria
In the first week of Serie A's relegation and championship mini-seasons, Sampdoria were the big winners, tearing Pomigliano at the back, with 19-year-old Victoria DellaPeruta stealing the show against her former team in 'a 5-0 victory.
With 14 points ahead of the bottom two, Naples and Pomigliano, Sampdoria is unlikely to risk relegation. But DellaPeruta ensured his safety by scoring four second-half goals in what was only his first start for the club since signing in January. The icing on the cake for DellaPeruta was that it was her older sister Talia, who signed at the same time, who prepared her for her fourth match.
