After securing their place in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals, Chelsea Women return to league action for Sunday’s meeting with West Ham United Women at Kingsmeadow.
Chelsea Women are leading the way in the Women’s Super League, while the Hammers will head into the weekend in eighth position.
Match preview
© Imago
Chelsea’s quadruple hopes are well and truly alive following their recent run of four consecutive matches against Manchester City.
The Blues began that run of games with a 2-1 win in the Women’s League Cup final, before they were quickly brought down to earth by a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final clash.
After bouncing back with a 2-1 win in last Sunday’s league meeting, Chelsea produced a dominant display to score three first-half goals in Thursday’s second leg, before they protected their advantage in the second period to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory and set up a UWCL semi-final against Barcelona for the third season in a row.
They will now turn their focus back to Women’s Super League action, with the Blues boasting an eight-point lead over Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table, leaving them on course to claim a sixth consecutive league title.
Chelsea have won each of their last 17 competitive meetings with West Ham, including a commanding 5-0 win in January’s reverse fixture and a 2-0 victory in February’s Women’s League Cup semi-final.
© Imago
West Ham will be satisfied with their recent run of form, having lost just one of their previous four league matches.
After taking three points off Brighton & Hove Albion, the Hammers gave up a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Arsenal, before they went on to play out a hard-fought draw against Manchester City.
The Hammers returned to winning ways in last Saturday’s home clash against Tottenham Hotspur, claiming a 2-0 victory thanks to a Josefine Rybrink own goal and a late Vivianne Asseyi effort.
That result extended West Ham’s unbeaten home run to four league matches (W3, D1), moving them up to eighth place and just three points adrift of the top half of the table.
The Hammers will have to produce something special if they are to take three points from Sunday’s contest, especially as they have failed to win any of their previous 13 WSL away matches since beating Bristol City 2-1 in January 2024 (D2, L11).
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
Team News
© Imago
Chelsea are unable to call upon the services of Femke Liefting, Zecira Musovic, Kadeisha Buchanan, Maelys Mpome, Sophie Ingle, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr.
Bompastor may make changes in a bid to freshen up her team, with defenders Niamh Charles and Ashley Lawrence among those who could come into the side for Sunday’s fixture.
Oriane Jean-Francois, Maika Hamano and Aggie Beever-Jones are also among those who could be considered for starting spots.
As for the visitors, they are without the injured Jessica Ziu, while Kristie Mewis is currently expecting her first child.
West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner could decide to keep faith with the same lineup that started the recent 2-0 win over Tottenham.
Asseyi will continue to offer one of West Ham’s main goal threats, having scored six goals in 16 league matches this season.
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Lawrence, Bright, Charles; Jean-Francois, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Hamano, James; Beever-Jones
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Szemik; Denton, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Hanshaw; Pavi, Siren, Gorry, Asseyi; Martinez, Ueki
We say: Chelsea Women 3-1 West Ham United Women
Chelsea may be struggling with a little fatigue, but the Blues have the squad to cope with the demands of the busy schedule, and we think they will showcase their extra quality to sweep past West Ham in Sunday’s home fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
