Matildas

The North London Derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal will feature six CommBank Matildas in a crucial early season battle.

Elsewhere, CommBank Matildas featured in some huge UWCL matchups throughout the week.

After the Swedish Damallsvenskan finished last week, and the NWSL finals reach their pointy end, attention turns to other European leagues.

Read all about our Matildas Abroad below.

UWCL

Arsenal defeated Juventus 4-0 away from home midweek. Caitlin Foord scored a goal and got an assist, Kyra Cooney-Cross came off the bench to assist Foord’s goal, and Steph Catley played the full match at centre-back to help ensure a clean sheet.

The result means that Arsenal are now three points clear in second in Group C at the halfway point of the group stage and are favourites to progress.

Manchester City defeated Swedish side Hammarby 2-0. Laura Blindkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino were the goalscorers. Hammarby didn’t make it easy, and were cheered on by a raucous away section, but City found a way in the end.

Alanna Kennedy started and played the full match for City, as did Mary Fowler.

FC Twente had a match they would rather forget against Real Madrid, being defeated 7-0. Twente are now third in their group and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout stages.

Daniela Galic came onto the pitch in the 79th minute for Twente. In the absence of a league game this weekend, they'll have to bounce back next week against Real Madrid again.

Last season’s finalists Lyon continued on their way, defeating Roma 3-0. Melchie Dumornay scored a brace as the French champions eased past the Italian side.

Ellie Carpenter played the full match at right-back.

Chelsea were not completely convincing but came from behind to defeat Celtic 2-1 in Scotland. Celtic scored first through Murphy Agnew, but goals to Maika Hamano and Ashley Lawrence were enough for the London side to get the victory.

Sam Kerr was unavailable for Chelsea as she continues her rehabilitation from her ACL injury.

England

The WSL round kicks off as Brighton & Hove Albion host West Ham on Saturday, 11.30pm AEDT. Brighton was brought back down to earth last week after a comprehensive defeat against Arsenal, and they are hoping to bounce back against the Hammers.

However, West Ham will be riding high after their first three points of the season last week to lead to a genuinely unpredictable match-up.

Katrina Gorry is available to line up in midfield for West Ham while Charlie Rule is hoping to make her first appearance of the season for Brighton.

Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in a massive derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 12.45am AEDT. The Gunners go into the match as heavy favourites but Spurs have had their moments this season, and there is no greater stage to upset your opponent than a derby.

Hayley Raso will hope to be fit enough to start this weekend for Spurs after returning from injury last time out. Clare Hunt will be available in the centre of defence, and Charli Grant will be available as well.

For the visiting Arsenal, the familiar trio of Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross will all be available to take part. All are in good form at the minute and will be hoping to elevate their side to another much-needed victory.

In another match that will be crucial to the title race, Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday, 4.30am AEDT. Both teams are currently undefeated, with City on top of the table. A win for either side would be massive in a league that may well go down to the wire.

Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy will both be available for City. Meanwhile, Sam Kerr remains unavailable for Chelsea as she continues to rehabilitate her ACL injury.

The North London derby is not the only derby of the weekend – Everton host Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby on Monday, 2am AEDT. Everton currently sit bottom of the table with three points from seven games (and no wins), while Liverpool are solidly midtable in sixth.

Clare Wheeler will be hoping to inspire Everton to their first win from midfield while Teagan Micah will be available between the sticks for Liverpool.

The final game of the round will see Leicester City host Manchester United on Monday, 2am AEDT. United need a response after failing to defeat Aston Villa last weekend and will have an opportunity to bounce back immediately against the Foxes.

Courtney Nevin will be available for Leicester after having regularly been starting in recent weeks at left-back.

You can watch the WSL live and free on Optus Sport.

France

Lyon face Saint-Étienne on Sunday, 7am AEDT. Saint-Étienne are sitting fifth on the table after seven games and will be no easy-beats, but Lyon are heavy favourites to get the three points and remain top of the table.

Ellie Carpenter will be available once more for Lyon.

Paris FC travel to take on Strasbourg on Sunday, 3am AEDT. Strasbourg have only picked up one victory so far this season and Paris will be hoping to ensure the gap between them and the top two teams doesn’t get too large with a win.

Sarah Hunter will be available for Paris.

Denmark

FC Nordsjælland take on Brøndby IF on Saturday, 11pm AEDT. Brøndby are currently third on the table and it will be an incredibly important three points for Nordsjælland to pick up.

Winonah Heatley is Nordsjælland’s captain and will be available to play on the weekend.

Germany

TSG Hoffenheim take on Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, 3.10am AEDT. It will be a tough test for Hoffenheim, taking on a Frankfurt side that currently sits second only behind Wolfsburg.

CommBank Matildas' forward Hayley Raso has officially signed for Tottenham Hotspur, making the move from Real Madrid, signing a deal that will run until 2026.

Raso returns to the WSL after spending the 2023/24 season with Real Madrid in LIGA F and will join the Australian duo of Charli Grant and Clare Hunt in North London.

The forward last played in the WSL in the 2022/23 season with Manchester City, claiming one FA Women's League Cup with City after making the move to Manchester after a season with Everton that saw the forward help the Toffees reach the Women’s FA Cup Final.

“I wanted to be back in this league, back at this level and Spurs was the team that I chose to do that with.” Raso told SPURSPLAY

"I think the WSL is such a competitive league, you see that with all of the games and all of the teams,"

Raso will join fellow Australians Charli Grant and Clare Hunt at the club, with the latter signing for the club last month. The forward will wear the number eight jersey.

"I spoke to Charli, who had been here a while, about what she thought of the club and how it was and how things went," Raso said.

"Having the Aussie girls here is a bit of an extra comfort, so for me coming in already knowing them will make my settling in a little easier."

Spurs are currently in pre-season of the WSL, with the 2024/25 season set to kick off on the 20th of September. Robert Vilahamn’s side will open their campaign against newly promoted Crystal Palace on the 22nd of September at 11pm AEST.

CommBank Matildas' defender Clare Hunt has officially signed for Tottenham Hotspur, making the move from Paris Saint-Germain F.C., signing with Spurs until 2027.

Hunt joins the contingent of Australians playing in the WSL and will join fellow Australian defender Charli Grant in North London.

The defender played the last season in France with Paris Saint-Germain F.C., making 22 appearances across all competitions with PSG and helping them to claim the Coupe de France Féminine.

Hunt’s time with PSG saw her gain experience in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, taking on some of the best teams in Europe, which will be a valuable asset for Spurs who will be looking to qualify for the UWCL for the first time.

"I was drawn to Spurs for the way they play, the club culture that is here and, for me, it feels like an environment where I can contribute,” she told SPURSPLAY after completing her move.

"The league has so much exposure, there’s some of the best players in the world competing here and, I think, to play alongside them and against them, week in, week out, will help me develop as a person and as a footballer."

"My biggest goal is to contribute all my experience and continue to build my value and give back to the Club. I’m really keen to get started."

Hunt will join fellow Australian defender Charli Grant at the club, with the new signing talking about Grant's involvement in completing a move to north London, “She gave me a really positive wrap about Spurs, gave me the ins and outs of what the Club is like and how I can contribute to this environment too, so to see her thrive here has given me a lot of confidence knowing that I could do that.”

Spurs are currently in pre-season of the WSL, with the 2024/25 season set to kick off on the 20th of September. Robert Vilahamn’s side will open their campaign against newly promoted Crystal Palace on the 22nd of September at 11pm AEST.

Arsenal's trio of CommBank Matildas helped defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby in front of a sold-out Emirates Stadium crowd.Meanwhile, Manchester City continued their impressive run of form, and West Ham's revival marched on. Read our review of all of the action below.