After the winter break, the European women’s leagues have largely returned (with Germany’s Frauen Bundesliga the outlier until Friday). There were a glut of goals in the Women’s Super League (WSL), while Barcelona picked up their first trophy of the season and Roma‘s slump continued.
Here are 10 things from this weekend’s action in the women’s game across Europe.
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James shines for Chelsea vs. Manchester United
At the end of last season, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said that completing the domestic double of league and FA Cup was “a grind.” And so far this season, the Blues have looked a bit laboured: there was the fortunate point away to Manchester City, the 4-1 thrashing from Arsenal, and 0-0 draw against Häcken at home in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL).
Still atop the WSL table over the winter break, it looked like it could be another season of toil from the champions. But, for the first 30 minutes of the 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, they were unplayable. Chelsea looked back to their vintage best and made light work of their passive visitors to go 2-0 up with a double from Lauren James, who showed how she can dance around defences and also get through ton of work off the ball as well.
Yes, they eased off and slipped into complacency to leave a route back into the game for United. But James’ third from her position as a roaming No. 10 put paid to any comeback from the visitors and Hayes will be delighted that her side showed something of their old selves even without injured star striker Sam Kerr.
Shaw keeps scoring
Not long after James had bagged her hat trick, Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw picked up a treble of her own in the 5-1 thrashing of Liverpool. With 12 goals from 10 games, Shaw is the top scorer in the WSL this season and completed her third hat trick in her last four league matches in style.
Shaw’s great understanding with her teammates means she knows exactly where to be to finish off chances and the cheeky backheel for her third showed just how confidence the Jamaica international is right now.
“The most impressive thing for me with Bunny is, you accept she’ll score goals, but it’s the other parts of her game,” City manager Gareth Taylor said afterwards. “Her holdup play has really improved and the way she pressed was magnificent. When you think about her transition into the Club, she had to compete with Ellen White for the No. 9 shirt but now and last season she’s taken it on herself.”
