Chelsea return to Women’s Super League (WSL) action this weekend with the visit of title rivals Manchester Metropolis.
Stamford Bridge will be the scene of this top-class clash between two teams fighting for this season’s title. Gareth Taylor’s Metropolis currently have the lead in the standings, but have played one more game than their rivals.
For Sonia Bompastor, this is her first season as a coach in England, after having managed French side Lyon. The 44-year-old currently has a 100 per cent record for Chelsea in all competitions, so they will be hoping to avoid their first defeat of the season.
All WSL matches will take place at Premier League stadiums this weekend and this will be Chelsea’s second match at the Bridge this season. They previously hosted Actual Madrid in west London in the Champions League group stage last month.
Here’s a 90-minute guide to this weekend’s clash between the two title rivals…
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Sonia Bompastor is without her long-term absentees Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Sophie Ingle. Lauren James has also been sidelined since before the last international break and won’t return until December at the earliest.
The Chelsea boss was also able to rest several key players in midweek for the Champions League group stage clash against Celtic. Mayra Ramirez, Millie Vivid, Kadeisha Buchanan and Sjoeke Nusken did not travel with the team to Glasgow and are expected to be fresh and ready for Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis planned lineup
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Bronze, Buchanan, Vivid, Baltimore; Nusken, Cuthbert; Kaneryd, Hamano, Reiten; Ramirez
Laia Aleixandri and Naomi Layzell remained sidelined for Metropolis’ midweek Champions League clash against Hammarby, although Taylor did not indicate whether the weekend’s game at Chelsea would also come too soon for the defensive pair. Metropolis will also be without long-term absentee Vivianne Miedema Risa Shimizu as she recovers from her knee injuries.
Lauren Hemp was absent from the team that beat Hammarby on Tuesday night, with Taylor confirming after the match that she was not fit enough to play after potentially suffering an injury during the Crystal Palace game earlier this month.
“He could have played against the Spurs, but he couldn’t play tonight,” Taylor explained after the game. “It will just take a little more time to evaluate and find out a little more.
“With a little luck [Lauren can play against Chelsea]. There is an opportunity there. “So tomorrow we will have to take our moment and talk to the medical staff and find out where we are.”
Predicted lineup for Manchester Metropolis vs Chelsea
Predicted lineup for Manchester Metropolis vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Keating; Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood; Park, Hasegawa, Roord; Fowler, Shaw, hemp
Chelsea have enjoyed a really strong start to the 2024/25 season as they remain unbeaten in all competitions. They currently sit second in the standings behind Metropolis and have played one game less than their title rivals.
Bompastor’s team will have home field advantage on Saturday, but this will arguably be their toughest test yet. It’s difficult to decide, but the London club should have enough to come out with a victory and claim first place in the standings.
