Chelsea Women will look to maintain their unbeaten record under Sonia Bompastor in Wednesday’s home meeting with Leicester City Women.
The Blues are leading the way in the Women’s Super League, while the Foxes will head into the midweek fixture in 10th position.
Match preview
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Chelsea are yet to taste defeat since Bompastor replaced Emma Hayes ahead of the 2024-25 season, but they would have been frustrated to drop two points in Sunday’s away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Sandy Baltimore scored her fourth WSL goal to give the Blues an early lead, before Brighton’s Marisa Olislagers and Vicky Losada found the net to send Chelsea into the break with a one-goal deficit.
Lauren James netted a 61st-minute equaliser to protect Chelsea’s unbeaten record, but the Blues were unable to carve out an elusive winner, ensuring their lead to second-placed Manchester United was cut to five points with seven matches left to play.
The 2-2 draw also represented just the second time that Chelsea have dropped points in the WSL this season, with their previous failure to secure maximum points taking place in December’s reverse fixture with Leicester, which saw the two sides play out a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.
The leaders will be confident about avoiding any slip-ups in Wednesday’s contest, having won all 14 of their competitive home games under Bompastor, including their seven WSL home matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding on just five occasions across those league outings.
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Leicester are preparing for another tough away fixture after falling to a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea’s title challengers, Man United, in Sunday’s WSL encounter.
Melvine Malard and Leah Galton scored in the first period to fire the Red Devils to a 2-0 victory, while condemning Leicester to a sixth consecutive away loss in the WSL, extending their winless away league run to 13 matches (D4, L9).
Despite their struggles on the road, Leicester are still on course to extend their four-season stay in the top flight, with six points separating them from basement side Crystal Palace.
While they may have taken a point off Chelsea in December’s home clash, the Foxes will know they face a difficult task in Wednesday’s fixture, especially as they have scored just two goals in their eight WSL away matches this season.
The size of their challenge is highlighted by the fact they have lost all four of their WSL away games against Chelsea, conceding 20 goals and scoring on just two occasions across those four road trips.
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Team News
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Chelsea are still having to cope without the services of Kadeisha Buchanan, Sophie Ingle, Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr, while midfielder Erin Cuthbert is unavailable after missing the last two matches.
World record signing Naomi Girma will have to be assessed after her debut was cut short in the 59th minute of Sunday’s draw with Brighton due to an injury issue.
Nathalie Bjorn could replace Girma if she fails to recover, and there might also be starting berths for Niamh Charles, Catarina Macario and Mayra Ramirez.
As for the Foxes, they are unable to call upon the injured quartet of Jutta Rantala, Noemie Mouchon, Lena Petermann and Deanne Rose.
Yuka Momiki will hope to be given a starting role after featuring as a half-time substitute in Sunday’s defeat to Man United.
Wales international Hannah Cain may also be considered if Amandine Miquel opts to refresh her attacking options for the tricky midweek fixture.
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Bjorn, Bright, Baltimore; Nusken, Kaptein; Rytting Kaneryd, Macario, James; Ramirez
Leicester City Women possible starting lineup:
Leitzig; Bott, Howard, Thibaud, Ale; Tierney, Mace; Tierney, Mace; Cain, Momiki, Goodwin; Cayman
We say: Chelsea Women 3-0 Leicester City Women
The WSL leaders may have dropped points at the weekend, but we expect them to return to winning ways in Wednesday’s fixture, especially as they boast a 100% home record under Bompastor, which is why we believe it may be a question of how many goals Chelsea win by rather than any doubt about the destination of the three points.
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