How the WSL title race and the relegation battle 2020/21 develop
Chelsea will likely be named ladies’s Tremendous League champions for the fourth time in six seasons in the event that they maintain their nerve within the final two video games of the 2020/21 marketing campaign, though Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless following them relentlessly within the hope of encountering some slippage. .
After a sluggish begin to the season, regardless of having gathered one thing of a “dream group” in Manchester, Metropolis gained 11 video games in a row between the start of December and the start of April. The spectacular run solely ended when the factors have been shared with Chelsea in a 2-2 attract final week’s titanic conflict between the perimeters that had the potential to change into a decisive title.
Chelsea & Man Metropolis drew 2-2 in a possible title winner just lately Visionhaus / Getty Photographs
Chelsea truly led in Manchester till Lauren Hemp’s late purpose put Metropolis again on equal phrases. However the end result nonetheless labored extra to Chelsea’s benefit by sustaining the identical two-point lead that they had had over Metropolis earlier than the beginning and clearing their final main impediment on the strategy to the title.
Emma Hayes’ Blues are in the motive force’s seat with solely two weeks of the season left and can carry the trophy once more in the event that they win away in opposition to Tottenham and at house in opposition to Studying on 5 and 9 Could respectively. Their destiny is totally in their very own palms and they might not have it another approach.
As well as, the other of each of those matches ended earlier within the season in comfy Chelsea wins with a whole rating of 9-0.
However how the fixture record performs out in consequence of Chelsea’s ongoing involvement within the Champions League signifies that Metropolis have the prospect to go to the highest of the WSL earlier than the present leaders play that sport in opposition to Spurs, which has been delayed by just a few days.
Chelsea are nonetheless favorites however have added Champions League distraction | Christian Kaspar-Bartke / Getty Photographs
Metropolis will high with one level in the event that they win at house to Birmingham in the following match, after profitable 4-0 in a reverse match within the midfield as late as the top of February.
Chelsea are in motion in opposition to Bayern Munich within the second stage of their Champions League semi-final on the identical day, and wish to show a whole deficit of 2-1 from the primary stage and thrust back their penultimate WSL match by just a few days.
Metropolis, who would like to nonetheless be within the Champions League themselves, hope the European dedication is sufficient of a distraction for a possibility to open up. Chelsea would then regain the highest spot in the event that they win in opposition to Tottenham, who take the title race to the thread on the closing day of the season, with both nonetheless in with a likelihood to carry the trophy.
Logic and type counsel Chelsea will come over the road in first place, however, as evidenced by their shock defeat to Brighton in early February, something can nonetheless occur and WSL have seen final – day drama earlier when Liverpool beat Chelsea and Birmingham to the 2014 title. .
Chelsea have been shocked by Brighton in February, proving that something can nonetheless occur to Mike Hewitt / Getty Photographs
At the opposite finish of the desk, there continues to be simply as a lot to play for, with 4 golf equipment nonetheless at risk of relegation within the final two weeks of the season.
Bristol Metropolis remained within the relegation zone after this weekend’s match spherical after a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, who themselves are at present solely certain of a purpose distinction. Villa threw away a 2-0 lead that might have assured survival, however as an alternative stored degree on factors with Robins.
Birmingham and West Ham are solely two factors higher than the underside two and each can nonetheless be caught if the outcomes go in opposition to them within the final matches.
After being down themselves till just lately, West Ham are the shape group down there and are literally the one aspect in the underside half of the desk which have gained any of the final 5 matches.
West Ham strive to keep away from relegation close to the underside | Julian Finney / Getty Photographs
Essential for Hammers, Birmingham and Villa, all of them have a match in hand at Bristol.
One in every of these is the second metropolis derby between Birmingham and Villa in the following few days, which may have a huge impact on the relegation image. West Ham’s match in hand, which is to be performed the identical evening, is in opposition to a robust Arsenal on a six-match profitable run and can in all probability finish in defeat.
Villa will then host West Ham in one other “six-pointer” on the penultimate day of play on Could 2, whereas Bristol will host Manchester United and Birmingham will journey to Manchester Metropolis.
Aston Villa & Bristol Metropolis drew 2-2 on this weekend’s relegation “sexpointer” | Naomi Baker / Getty Photographs
On the final day of Could 9, Villa journey to Arsenal, Birmingham to Tottenham, Bristol journey to Brighton and West Ham to Manchester Metropolis. One in every of the 4 at risk will play his soccer within the Ladies’s Championship 2021/22.
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