On Saturday, Chelsea Women will travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City Women in the final round of Women's Super League matches in 2024.
The Blues are sitting top of the WSL table with a perfect record, while the Foxes are languishing in 11th position.
Match preview
© Imago
Leicester are hovering just above the relegation places on goal difference after winning one, drawing two and losing six of their eight league matches this season.
The Foxes recorded that sole victory on October 20 when Yuka Momiki scored the only goal in a home game against Everton.
Unfortunately for Leicester, they have failed to add to their points tally since that 1-0 win, having lost four consecutive league games without troubling the scorers, including last Sunday's heavy 4-0 defeat against Manchester City.
As a result of their struggles in front of goal, Amandine Miquel's side are currently the lowest scorers in the WSL with just two goals to their name.
With that in mind, the Foxes would have taken confidence from Wednesday's free-scoring display in their Women's League Cup clash against Birmingham City, with Momiki, CJ Bott, Simone Sherwood and Hannah Cain all finding the net alongside an own goal in a dominant 5-2 victory.
While the result was not enough to advance from the group stage, Leicester will look to build upon their commanding performance, as they look to take at least a point off Chelsea for the first time in the WSL.
© Imago
Sonia Bompastor is just two games away from ending 2024 with a 100% record as Chelsea boss, having overseen 14 consecutive victories since she took over the reins from Emma Hayes in the summer.
Bompastor's side returned from the recent international break with a 4-2 home win against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, courtesy of a Sjoeke Nusken brace as well as goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Chelsea produced another free-scoring display in Wednesday's Women's Champions League clash against Twente, with Catarina Macario, Oriane Jean-Francois, Mayra Ramirez, Erin Cuthbert, Eve Perisset and Nusken all finding the net in a 6-1 victory, leaving Chelsea three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid ahead of the meeting between the two sides on Tuesday.
While they had already qualified for the quarter-finals, they would have been pleased to maintain their three-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of Group B, leaving them in a strong position ahead of Tuesday's meeting between the two sides.
Before they head to the Spanish capital, Chelsea will look to maintain their sizeable advantage at the top of the WSL standings, with the Blues currently sitting five points clear of title rivals Manchester City.
They will certainly be confident about their chances of claiming all three points, having won each of their previous six WSL games against Leicester, including a 4-0 victory on their most recent trip to the King Power Stadium in March.
Team News
© Imago
Leicester are expected to be without the services of Sam Tierney, Jutta Rantala, Shannon O'Brien, Lena Petermann and Noemie Mouchon.
Shana Chossenotte is a major doubt for Saturday's fixture after being absent from the last two matchday squads.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Sophie Ingle, Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, Lauren James, Kadeisha Buchanan and Aniek Nouwen.
Sandy Baltimore has missed the last two matches with a knee issue, making her a doubt for Saturday's trip to the King Power Stadium.
Midfielder Jean-Francois will have to be assessed after being forced off just before half time in Wednesday's victory over Twente.
Leicester City Women possible starting lineup:
Leitzig; Bott, Howard, Swaby, Nevin; Takarada, Mace; Cain, Momiki, Goodwin; Cayman
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Bjorn, Bright, Lawrence; Nusken, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Kaptein, Reiten; Ramirez
We say: Leicester City Women 0-3 Chelsea Women
Chelsea will be full of confidence after winning each of their 14 matches under Bompastor, and we think that the WSL champions will produce a dominant performance against Leicester to extend their run of victories ahead of their midweek trip to Spain.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
