Half time here in Leigh where the score in this Champions League knockout play-off tie second leg reads Man Utd 2-0 Atletico Madrid. Atleti started well but United have extended their aggregate lead to 5-0 thanks to goals from Julia Zigiotti Olme and Jess Park. Park's in particular was a beauty.

A whopping 16 WSL players in Japan’s squad for the Asian Cup, which begins March 1. On top of the actual tournament itself being a spectacle, it’s going to be fascinating to see how teams cope with those absentees and how it could impact the race for UWCL, for example. www.jfa.jp/women/news/0...

As Man Utd enter a period of five huge games in 16 days, the squad depth that their January business has added is going to be vital. I'm particularly intrigued to see what that looks like in attack, where the Red Devils now appear to have the variety and quality to cause real problems.

Tottenham finished second-from-bottom in the WSL last season. Their top-flight record against Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City & Man Utd is two wins, five draws, 42 losses. Financially, they are nowhere near the ‘big four’. And yet, Spurs are right in the fight with all of them for a Champions League spot

Vivianne Miedema was a star in the last team other than Chelsea to win the WSL title. Now, in a totally different position, and after a rough couple of years, her world-class quality is playing a key role in the side that is about to end Chelsea's six-year dominance of this competition

Sonia Bompastor says Lucy Bronze was missing for Chelsea today having felt pain in her shin, the same one she fractured at Euro 2025

FT: Man City 5-1 Chelsea Chelsea's biggest WSL defeat in over seven years comes as a result of a Kerolin hat-trick, plus goals for Shaw and Miedema. City now 11 points clear at the top of the table with eight games to go, and surely on the brink of a first WSL title in 10 years.

Great moment here for Mary Fowler, who comes on for her first appearance since April of last year, when she suffered a devastating ACL injury

Kerolin subbed off to a standing ovation after an oustanding performance. Blindkilde Brown also replaced, as Fujino and Coffey come on. Chelsea make another sub, too, as James is replaced by Rytting Kaneryd.

4-0. Kerolin hat-trick. Wow

Bompastor reponds with two subs. Cuthbert and Buurman off, Nusken and Kerr on

Game, set and match! 3-0 to Man City, thanks to an outstanding individual goal from Kerolin. The forward runs from inside her own half on a one-woman counter attack and dinks it over Hampton in style.

HT: Man City 2-0 Chelsea City good for their lead and hold a result that would put them 12 points clear at the top of the WSL. Chelsea had shots from range and tested Yamashita but not created any particularly big chances.

GOAL! Shaw doubles Man City's lead after racing onto Miedema's through ball and finishing clinically. Gets around Girma to get onto the pass and the defender wants a foul for a pull but doesn't get it. Bompastor absolutely livid here on the touchline.

Kaptein thinks she's levelled the scores with a header that Yamashita really should save, but her blushes are spared by a correct offside flag. Nice cross from James, too. Still 1-0

GOAL! Kerolin gives City the lead!

Team news 🚨 Man City XI: Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood; Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown, Miedema; Kerolin, Shaw, Hemp. Chelsea XI: Hampton; Bright, Buurman, Girma; Carpenter, Cuthbert, Walsh, Kaptein, Baltimore; Thompson, James.

Marc Skinner confirms that all of Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Lisa Naalsund and Gabby George have had options for another year exercised in their deals. All four now under contract until the summer of 2027, having been set to become free agents at the end of this season.

Bethany England interview 🗣️ On ‘the hardest six months’ after swapping Chelsea for Tottenham, thriving under pressure, the cultural shift at Spurs and loads more ⬇️

As the WSL hits its halfway point this weekend, a look at the state of the title race. Is Chelsea's incredible run as champions of England coming to an end? Or will Man City let them back in? Still plenty of twists and turns to come, for sure...

FT: Man Utd 0-3 Lyon Scoreline reflects the game better in the end. United didn't have a shot on target all game and struggled to really lay a glove on Lyon, even if they got into the game more after the break. Melchie Dumornay was outstanding.

3-0, Dumornay. Clinical stuff. She's been outstanding, again

2-0, Dumornay with an absolutely beauty. Best player on the pitch all night and deserves to get on the scoresheet. That should do it for Lyon, with less than 10 minutes to go.

Janssen on now, replacing Sandberg

Katoto, Diani and Shrader all coming on for Lyon

Miyazawa looks to be in as she nicks possession off Heaps, but it's good covering defending by Sombath. Endler does then kick the ball out of play trying to get it back to her defender and it produces a real roar from the home fans. Feels like the HT subs have lifted them a bit.

It's a triple Man Utd sub as Toone, Zigotti and Park all enter the game. Off go Awujo, Williams and Naalsund, the latter of whom Giraldez was furious didn't get a second yellow just before the break.

Ella Toone coming on at half time

HT: Man Utd 0-1 Lyon Chawinga's header the difference at the break, giving Lyon a lead they fully deserve. Not had tons of chances besides that, with a Hegerberg header the most notable since, but in total control. Malard did have a good chance at the other end, but way over.

1-0 Lyon, Chawinga. Initially great defending by Riviere, who thwarts Hegerberg after Chawinga put her through on goal. But Lyon recycle it well and Engen delivers a lovely cross that Chawinga can glance in. Tullis-Joyce will want that one back.

#UWCL team news 🚨 🔴 Man Utd XI: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, George, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Awujo, Naalsund; Malard, Williams, Rolfö. 🔵 Lyon XI: Endler; Tarciane, Sombath, Engen, Bacha; Heaps, Egurrola, Dumornay; Brand, Hegerberg, Chawinga.

FT: Arsenal 1-0 Twente A little dicey at the end as Twente threw caution to the wind but Arsenal fully deserving of a win that should've been by a larger scoreline really, considering the chances created and dominance of the game. Gunners now within one point of UWCL top four.

Arsenal making a triple sub here, with Foord, Maanum and Little all coming on

HT: Arsenal 1-0 Twente Strong performance from the Gunners. Pressing has been really good, with Twente unable to settle into any sort of rhythm and instead turning the ball over in dangerous areas. It's from those situations Arsenal have created a lot, including Mead's opener.

1-0 Arsenal, Beth Mead breaks the deadlock after 10 minutes. Twente started well enough but Arsenal have ramped up their pressing in the last few minutes it feels like and it pays dividends here, two mins after producing another Mead chance blocked on the line.

Arsenal host Twente in their penultimate Champions League league phase fixture. Important game for the reigning champs, 10th in table, three points off auto qualification for knockouts. A result for Twente, who drew with Chelsea in Oct, would really boost their chances of sneaking into the top 12.

As well as announcing Germany as hosts of Euro 2029, UEFA also appointed hosts for the following women's youth tournaments today: U17 Euros 🏆 2028: Belgium 🇧🇪 2029: Turkey 🇹🇷 U19 Euros 🏆 2028: Portugal 🇵🇹 2029: Italy 🇮🇹

FT: England U23 2-4 USA U23 Great game that really opened up in the second half, the visitors just the more clinical side overall. Nice chance for the Young Lionesses to test themselves against non-European opposition, though.

4-2 USA, outstanding flick around the corner from Sarah Schupansky to set Ally Sentnor free, and she finishes with confidence into the bottom corner

Turning into a goalfest this second half! Keira Barry on the scoresheet as her cross-cum-shot is palmed at by Neeku Purcell but not strongly enough to keep it out. 3-2!

And just like that, the U.S. re-extend their lead as Dahlien’s cross is converted by Weber. 3-1!

2-1! England pull one back through Jess Simpson, as her teasing free-kick delivery isn’t dealt with by the U.S. defence and sails all the way in.

2-0 to the U.S. now as Maddie Dahlien sees her curling effort hit Evie Rabjohn and loop in over Faye Kirby. Nice slick passing in the build-up to that, as was the case with the first goal. Quite an even game overall, but the visitors showing more quality in the final third.

Only two minutes on the clock and Emeri Adames has put the U.S. ahead here. Superb team goal. Ally Sentnor bursts down the right, Sarah Weber connects with the cross and backheels for Adames instinctively, who finishes well. 1-0!

Accrington Stanley hosting England’s U23s second fixture of this international window, with the United States the visitors. Classic British weather for this encounter. Kick-off 7pm.

Left-back has been the Lionesses’ problem position for a while now, making Rachel Maltby’s breakthrough at Aston Villa all the more noteworthy. My #NXGN profile on, and interview with, the very promising 18-year-old ⬇️

Left-back has been the Lionesses’ problem position for a while now, making Rachel Maltby’s breakthrough at Aston Villa all the more noteworthy. My #NXGN profile on, and interview with, the very promising 18-year-old ⬇️

FT: England U23 1-0 Norway U23 Dominant performance from the Young Lionesses, even if the scoreline doesn't suggest as much. Created more in the second half but just couldn't quite add to their lead. No matter, as they never let Norway get into this one at the other end.