FEATURES

Chelsea's 2024-25 Women's Super League season was an all-timer. Undefeated through 22 games - the first team ever to achieve that in the competition's history - while also registering a record points return of 60, the Blues ascended to unprecedented levels of dominance in their first year under new head coach Sonia Bompastor. What has gone wrong, then, that means the six-time defending champions are on the brink of relinquishing their crown less than a year later?

After all the drama provided by the Champions League in midweek, domestic action returned over the weekend, and it did not disappoint. Title races and battles to earn European spots are heating up around the continent, with there plenty of twists and turns still to come over the next three-and-a-half months.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

Alexia Putellas has always strived for greatness. As a legendary champion with Barcelona and Spain, and one of the most decorated female players of all time, the iconic midfielder has always set impeccable standards on the pitch, empowering athletes to become role models for younger generations. For club or country, ‘La Reina’ has built a legacy through her vision, control and versatility, thriving as a creative force while driving unprecedented growth in the women’s game.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including McKennie scoring, again, for Juventus in an important victory.

Arsenal became the first-ever winners of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup as Caitlin Foord struck an extra-time winner to seal a 3-2 victory against a resilient Corinthians side. The Gunners led twice in normal time through Olivia Smith and Lotte Wubben-Moy, before a last-gasp penalty conceded by Katie McCabe saw Vic Albuquerque draw the Brazilian champions level. But Foord had the final say for Renee Slegers' victorious Gunners, who saw goalkeeper Anneke Borbe stretchered off in worrying scenes just before full-time.

The 22-year-old midfielder clocked 100 official matches for the Soweto giants when they edged ZESCO United 1-0 in a CAF Confederation Cup tie at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. He came on as a second-half substitute to play the last 32 minutes, but could not score or provide an assist on his career special day. He reached the century milestone when his Orlando Pirates opposite number is now on 108 appearances for the Buccaneers with 20 goals and 26 assists.

Manchester City are now six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after succumbing to a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday. The visitors seemed in cruise control having raced into a two-goal lead in the first half, but threw that advantage away in damning circumstances as they lost further ground in the title race.

Defending champions Chelsea were taught a harsh lesson as Women's Super League leaders Manchester City took a huge step towards claiming the title with a 5-1 victory over the Blues on Sunday. Kerolin struck an impressive hat-trick while Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema also got in on the act, with Alyssa Thompson merely able to register a consolation which did little to change a devastating result for Sonia Bompastor's side.

Manchester City have one hand on the Women's Super League trophy after opening up an 11-point gap at the top of the table on Sunday by beating Chelsea, the six-time reigning champions, 5-1. Blues boss Sonia Bompastor admitted last week that she felt the title race was already over and this result only strengthened that feeling, as a Kerolin hat-trick and goals for Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema gave the Cityzens what is surely an unassailable lead with just eight games remaining.

Manchester United's winning start to life under Michael Carrick continued in dramatic fashion as Benjamin Sesko's stoppage-time strike secured a 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday. Goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha had the Red Devils cruising towards victory, only for late strikes from Raul Jimenez and Kevin to pull the visitors level. Sesko, however, had the last laugh when he lashed his shot into the top corner.

A late, if rather fortuitous, Kylian Mbappe penalty bailed out Real Madrid as they edged Rayo Vallecano, 2-1, on Sunday. Los Blancos were poor for most of the game, but a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time, converted by Mbappe, handed them a narrow win to stay within a point of Liga leaders Barcelona. Vinicius Jr also found the net in what was an unconvincing victory at the Bernabeu.

Manchester United moved - at least temporarily - up to second in the Women's Super League as Lisa Naalsund's double helped Marc Skinner's side beat Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday. The Norwegian midfielder struck either side of Alice Bergstrom's equaliser before Fridolina Rolfo bagged a late third to help United pick up their third win in a row and put pressure on Chelsea before the Blues' clash with Manchester City.

The two forwards were on the scoresheet for Barcelona again, as Hansi Flick's side extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Elche. Yamal was in inspired form to score one and set-up another as Rashford bagged his second for the Catalans in a matter of days in a confident win for the defending Spanish champions.

Wirtz and Ekitike stepped up for Arne Slot as the big-money summer signings helped fire Liverpool to a comeback victory against Newcastle. When the Magpies took a deserved lead, the French forward took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored a quickfire brace to flip it on its head. The Reds then pressed home their advantage and ran out worthy 4-1 winners.

Chelsea recovered to win a Premier League match from two goals down for the first time in their history as Enzo Fernandez's strike in stoppage time broke West Ham hearts in a dramatic 3-2 victory for the hosts at Stamford Bridge. The Blues recovered from a woeful opening 45 minutes to cancel out Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville's first-half strikes and hand manager Liam Rosenior a sixth win from his opening seven games in charge.

Arsenal ended their run of three Premier League games without a win with a dominant 4-0 win at Leeds United to move seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, silencing those critics who have suggested their title hopes were about to collapse. The visitors suffered a major blow in the warm-up when they lost star man Bukayo Saka to injury, with Noni Madueke being drafted in off the bench to replace him, but it was the former Chelsea man who proved to be the difference in the first half as Mikel Arteta's superb squad again began to flex its muscle.