While the WSL took a week off there was still plenty of elite European action over the weekend, with England internationals finding the net, attendance records smashed and title races heating up.
Some of the top sides across the continent were back in domestic action after competing in the Champions League only days earlier. Barcelona were looking to continue their red-hot run, after downing Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek.
Meanwhile over in France, Lyon resumed their domestic charge after getting their European campaign back on track with a win over Zurich last week. Below, the Mirror picks out the highlights from the weekend.
Spain
In Spain’s Liga F, Barcelona made it a perfect ten to start their league season, with Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Kiera Walsh both involved. Fresh from becoming the first England internationals to represent Barcelona at Camp Nou since Gary Lineker in the Champions League win over Georgia Stanway’s Bayern, both played a part as they resumed their domestic campaign with a 6-1 thrashing of Atletico Madrid.
Atletico were unbeaten in six games prior to hosting the table-toppers, but goals from Crnogorčević, Mapi León, Paralluelo (2) and Engen, as well as a superb diving header from Bronze, secured a comfortable victory. The win means Jonatan Giráldez's team are still leading the way, eight points clear of Real Madrid in second place who do have a game in hand. Barcelona have now won their first ten matches, scoring 43 goals in the process as they go in search of an eighth title.
Real did at least bounce back from their Champions League disappointment against Chelsea, with a 5-1 demolition of Alhama. Scotland's international star Caroline Weir opened the scoring for them in the third minute.
Image:
Photo by Eric Alonso - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)France
Lyon edged past Paris FC 3-2 in a five goal thriller to swat aside their injury concerns and remain top of the Division 1 Féminine in France. Inspirational leader Wendie Renard scored twice for the away side, but her second only brought them level with 20 minutes to play, after Mathilde Bourdieu’s double had looked to put Paris on course for a win.
Fortunately for Lyon, there was still time to snatch a winner which came in the 80th minute when Delphine Cascarino struck. It means the French giants are still unbeaten this season as they look to defend the title won in last season’s invincible campaign.
However, their Le Classique rivals PSG are right on their tails after a 1-0 win at Guingamp. French forward Kadidiatou Diani got the only goal in the 30th minute, putting Les Parisiennes only two points behind Lyon in the title race.
Scotland
It was another weekend for attendance records to be smashed across the women’s game and this was the case north of the border. Sunday's Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Hearts attracted a new domestic record crowd of 8,066 at Easter Road.
The points were shared after it finished 1-1, defender Emma Brownlie having headed Hearts into the lead only for the home side to fight back, strike Crystal Thomas swivelling in the box to finish from close-range late on. The point keeps Hearts in fourth, while Hibs sit four points behind in sixth.
Elsewhere, Rangers were knocked off top spot in the SWPL after a gripping Old Firm derby clash with Celtic finished goalless. The Gers had the better of the contest and only a string of excellent saves from Celtic’s Pamela Tajonar kept her team only a point behind last year’s champions.
The only side other than Rangers still unbeaten, Glasgow City, now sit top after an excellent 4-1 win over Partick Thistle. Goals from Kinga Kozak, Emily Whelan, Abbi Grant and Bea Prades Insa gave them all three points, sending them two clear of Rangers.
NEW! Our Year: European Champions 2022 - The Official England Winners Book
With a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.
Order from https://reachsportshop.com/book/our-year-european-champion-2022/