🏏 Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:00 BST
Chelsea Women
vs
Leicester City Women
Positions estimated (no formation data from the API)
Substitutes
Substitutes
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- Chelsea name Japan international Maika Hamano among the substitutes. The 21-year-old right winger came through Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies and INAC Kobe Leonessa before moving to Europe, and she collected both the Golden Ball and the Silver Boot at the U-20 Women's World Cup. Breaking into a forward line that also contains Sandy Baltimore and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is the challenge, so any minutes she gets will be worth watching closely.
- Chelsea's midfield is built around one of the world's best holding players. Keira Walsh, 28, returned to England after spells at Manchester City and Barcelona, and her tempo control and range of passing set the rhythm for everything in front of her. Around her, Scotland's Erin Cuthbert, 27, who joined Chelsea at 18, and 20-year-old Netherlands midfielder Wieke Kaptein, signed from FC Twente, supply the legs and the pressing.
- Leicester's answer in midfield is experience of a rare kind. Emily van Egmond, 32, has 163 caps for Australia, won back-to-back Bundesliga titles at Wolfsburg and was part of the side that lifted the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup. At 178cm she picks passes over distance. Beside her sits Celeste Boureille, 31, who made 71 appearances across five seasons at Portland Thorns, and the pair's job is to cut the supply line from Walsh.
- Rosella Ayane returns to the club that raised her. The 29-year-old Morocco forward came through Chelsea's academy before spells at Tottenham and Bristol City, and at 180cm she combines aerial presence with genuine pace. She started all six matches at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations and scored twice as Morocco finished runners-up, making her Leicester's most obvious game-changer from the bench.
- Chelsea's defence is led by captain Millie Bright. The 32-year-old holds the WSL appearance record, and her 178cm frame still wins tackles and aerial duels; she retired from international football in 2025 to focus on the club. Alongside her is Sweden's Nathalie Bjorn, 28, signed from Everton in January 2024, with Australia right-back Ellie Carpenter, 25, a Champions League winner at Lyon before joining in the summer of 2025.
- The goalkeeping matchup carries weight. Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, 24, is England's first choice and a FIFA Best Women's Goalkeeper award winner, prized for her reflexes and her command of her box at set pieces. Leicester counter with Janina Leitzig, the 183cm German who arrived on loan from Bayern Munich before signing permanently and was voted the club's player of the year. She is likely to be the busier of the two.
- Leicester's back line has some unusual stories. Captain Sam Tierney, 26, holds the club appearance record and scored the goal that sealed promotion to the WSL. French centre-back Julie Thibaud, 27, built her reputation at Bordeaux and brings composure in possession. Asmita Ale, 23, is the first player of Nepalese heritage to turn professional in England's top women's division, an Aston Villa academy product who arrived via Tottenham.
- The wide areas may decide how open this becomes. Chelsea have Sandy Baltimore, the 156cm France international who debuted at 16 in the PSG system and beats defenders with pure acceleration, plus Catarina Macario, the Brazil-born United States playmaker who won the Champions League with Lyon. Leicester reply with two ex-Everton wingers: Ireland's Heather Payne, a four-year Florida State alumna, and Wales left-footer Hannah Cain.
- Bench quality is where the gap is clearest. Chelsea can turn to Australia captain Sam Kerr, 32, Sweden's Player of the Year winner Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, 28, and Switzerland goalkeeper Livia Peng, who impressed at Euro 2025. Leicester are not empty-handed: Jutta Rantala, 25, won both the Finnish golden boot and player of the year award in 2019, and Noemie Mouchon, 22, scored nine in 22 games for Reims.