Category: Opinion

UWCL Final – Barça Blow the Blues Away…

It took FC Barcelona Femení just 36 minutes to drive a wrecking ball through Chelsea's aspirations to win their first Champions League title at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg. The Spaniards were ahead inside the first minute from Melanie Leupolz's unlucky own goal. Alexia Putellas then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Aitana Bonmatí's neat finish made it 3-0 on 20 minutes, and winger Lieke Martens teed up Caroline Graham Hansen for Barcelona's fourth with nine minutes still remaining in the first half. It is Barcelona's first UWCL title and they become the first club to have won the Champions League in both the men's and women's competitions...

Canada’s Win Built on Robust Organisation and England Errors

England gift-wrapped victory for Canada with sloppy defensive mistakes at either end of this match at the Bet365 Stadium, Stoke.  Évelyne Viens picked Demi Stokes’ pocket in the third minute to fire the Canadians in front. Four minutes from full time, substitute Nichelle Prince pounced on a poor first touch from keeper Karen Bardlsey and stabbed the ball home virtually on the goal line...

Wasteful Lionesses Lose to ‘France B’

DESPITE registering eighteen shots on goal, England were roundly beaten by France at the Stade Michel d'Ornano in Caen. Sandy Baltimore gave the hosts a 32nd minute lead and second half substitute Viviane Asseyi doubled their advantage with a 63rd minute penalty after Rachel Daly brought down Elisa de Almeida. Fran Kirby reduced the arrears from the penalty spot with eleven minutes left. France got their crucial third goal three minutes later when Kadidatou Diani set up Marie-Antoinette Katoto to convert from close range...

Foxy Ladies

Despite this week’s government enforced lockdown, elite women’s football will be allowed to resume at the weekend. Rather than refocusing on the WSL, though, D2B has decided to dip into the FA Women’s Championship (one level below) and take a look at Leicester City WFC who ended 2020 on top of the pile. Acquired last summer by King Power, the parent company of Brendan Rogers’ men's team, the women’s set-up was able to go fully professional and what a difference it’s making…

UWCL Ro32 – Quality Gap Not Closing Anytime Soon…

This week we (mostly) saw the conclusion of the Women’s Champions League Round of 32, the phase of the competition when all of Europe’s top teams enter. Here D2B outlines the recent state of play across the continent, rounds up what happened over the two-legged ties, and assesses whether there’s any hope that UEFA’s elite club trophy can become more competitive.