Wcl And Wsl Talking Points: Arsenal Show Super Strength But Manchester Pair Stumble

Barcelona foiled by Bayern’s block

Alexia Putellas said Barcelona person to “adapt our game” aft a 1-1 tie distant to Bayern Munich successful nan first limb of nan Champions League semi-finals. The game, successful which nan scorer of Bayern’s equaliser, Franziska Kett, was sent disconnected for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hairsbreadth precocious on, was a acold outcry from nan 7-1 triumph nan Spanish champions earned complete nan German champions successful their opening lucifer of nan convention shape of nan competition. “We knew this crippled would beryllium different. As you’ve seen, we were right,” said nan two-time Ballon d’Or winner. “The first half was different from nan 2nd half. In nan end, they were successful a mean block; we waited for much abstraction successful nan middle. We person to accommodate our game.” The cardinal seems to beryllium to fto Barcelona person nan shot and Bayern’s Giulia Gwinn said: “The biggest situation against Barcelona is to judge that you’ll person very small possession without becoming passive. Every clip we managed to spell beyond that first infinitesimal of pressing, we were dangerous. In nan 2nd half, we had nan momentum. We could’ve made much of a mates of chances, but we could show that they’re not unbeatable, that we tin get thing done.” Suzanne Wrack

Arsenal show tone of trophy win

Renée Slegers praised nan value of Arsenal’s problem-solving skills aft they came from down against OL Lyonnes to earn a 2-1 triumph astatine home successful nan first limb of their Champions League semi-final. “It decidedly is [a strength],” said nan Arsenal manager. “The intelligence that we person successful nan squad. Being connected nan pitch, seeing and emotion it, is truthful valuable, past we spot nan transportation from above, method views, which has a batch of worth arsenic well, to spot nan spaces. Seeing and emotion it. That collaboration of some perspectives is really good.” The Champions League grounds scorer Ada Hegerberg called it “a crippled of 2 halves” and she was right. After being made to activity difficult successful nan first, nan Gunners were rampant successful nan second. The tone of past season’s battling tally to nan trophy, which included a 2-1 semi-final first limb conclusion to Lyonnes astatine location earlier an emphatic 4-1 triumph away, was very overmuch connected show astatine nan Emirates Stadium. Key to that was that expertise to problem solve, to find nan answers to nan questions nan guidance asked of them, betwixt legs. On Sunday, they seemed to person been capable to condense that process and unlock Lyonnes weaknesses mid-match. SW

Lyonnes goalkeeper Christiane Endler and Ingrid Syrstad Engen effort to fend disconnected Arsenal’s Olivia Smith. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Manchester City’s stumble tightens title race

Brighton’s surprise 3-2 victory complete Manchester City illustrated a flimsy vulnerability successful nan convention leaders. This crippled was a clear illustration of how, if you time off nan doorway ajar, immoderate squad successful this convention tin return advantage. Andrée Jeglertz’s broadside should person been retired of show successful nan first half but registered conscionable 2 of their 9 shots connected target. Buoyed up by nan opposition’s wastefulness, Brighton pounced. The timing of nan hosts’ first 2 goals was important – Madison Haley’s leveller coming heavy into first-half wounded clip and Kiko Seike giving Brighton nan lead 2 minutes aft nan restart – and earlier nan visitors knew it, nan momentum had swung distant from them. This stumble intends that if Arsenal hit Leicester successful midweek, City will not beryllium capable to assistance nan trophy astatine location adjacent Sunday. Sophie Downey

Lowly Foxes outwitted by Lionesses

There is nary denying that Leicester are successful a spot of a spread and quickly moving retired of chances to excavation themselves out. A second-half capitulation to London City Lionesses successful Bromley will, therefore, person done small to thief nan dwindling assurance of Rick Passmoor’s side. The Foxes head was intelligibly disappointment pinch really nan crippled fell distant from his squad aft a agleam start. Four of nan hosts’ 5 goals successful nan 5-1 triumph came from deliveries from wide areas, exposing a clear frailty successful Leicester’s protect setup. With results astir them not going their way, they are 7 points down West Ham, meaning conclusion to Arsenal successful midweek will guarantee a 12th-place decorativeness and a spot successful nan playoff pinch their WSL endurance astatine stake. At nan very least, Passmoor will request to find immoderate benignant of spark to boost nan morale of his team. SD

London City’s Jana Fernandez competes pinch Leicester’s Ashleigh Neville astatine Copperjax Community Stadium. Photograph: Yaroslav Dunka/SPP/Shutterstock

Bompastor calls for goalline technology

Sam Kerr’s timely return to her champion shape not only helped Chelsea take a elephantine measurement towards Champions League qualification but besides served arsenic a reminder of her prima qualities arsenic she approaches nan last 2 months of her contract. The Australia striker, who has scored successful 4 games successful a statement for nine and country, has been wide linked pinch a summertime move distant from London connected a free transfer, astir heavy to nan NWSL, and Chelsea were shown precisely what they mightiness beryllium missing arsenic she scored doubly pinch instinctive, debased finishes successful a 4-1 triumph astatine Goodison Park. Kerr should person scored a “perfect hat-trick” but her header – which replays showed had intelligibly crossed nan statement – was not fixed arsenic a extremity by nan officials, prompting nan Chelsea head Sonia Bompastor to call for goalline exertion successful nan WSL. Tom Garry

West Ham return decisive measurement towards safety

West Ham boosted their hopes of WSL endurance pinch a captious 1-0 triumph complete Liverpool, moving 7 points clear of nan relegation playoff place. In a title betwixt 2 sides hovering supra Leicester astatine nan bottommost of nan table, nan consequence gave nan visitors valuable breathing space. An early ain extremity credited to Cornelia Kapocs proved capable to abstracted nan sides, though nan Reds continued pushing for an equaliser until nan last minute. West Ham, however, held connected to unafraid only their 2nd distant triumph of nan play and a first triumph complete Liverpool since February 2020. The Hammers are not safe yet, and head Rita Guarino acknowledged that reality: “Mathematically it doesn’t show but of people it is 3 important points particularly pinch conscionable 3 games near for Leicester, it’s big. We will person to hold for Wednesday and see.” Réshma Rao

Another setback for United successful title for Europe

Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for nan Champions League are now successful nan hands of their rivals aft a goalless tie astatine Tottenham. United were fortunate to time off northbound London pinch a constituent aft conceding 22 shots and having little possession than their opponents. They now person to trust connected Chelsea to driblet pointsat Leicester to person immoderate chance of qualifying for Europe. “We weren’t astatine nan velocity of nan crippled we needed to beryllium – nan pressing wasn’t bully enough,” said nan United caput coach, Marc Skinner. “Tottenham edged it successful nan first half, 2nd half it ebbed and flowed. It was backmost and forth. It’s evidently successful Chelsea’s hands but we play them [on nan last day]. We still person to hit Brighton and Chelsea. We’re disappointed astir dropping points coming but successful reality we needed to do much to get nan 3 points.” Emillia Hawkins