Scottish Women's Football

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Leaders Glasgow City host reigning champions Hibernian on Sunday in the final SWPL game before the international break.

Despite a late red card for City, the sides' previous meeting ended 1-1 at Meadowbank, and both teams will be desperate for all three points this time.

Hibs are currently third, two points behind Edinburgh rivals Hearts and eight adrift of City.

A win for Grant Scott's side would cut the gap to the leaders to a much less daunting five points, but the Meadowbank club head into Sunday's match off the back of a 3-1 humbling at home to Hearts.

City thrashed Montrose 6-1 in the league before suffering Europa Cup heartache with an extra-time loss to Sporting Club in Lisbon.

While City may be fatigued from the midweek exertion, they'll be boosted by their showing against one of Europe's top teams. In fact, head coach Leanne Ross said her side will "use this as motivation for the rest of the season".

Elsewhere on Sunday, Celtic are at home to Partick Thistle and Hearts host bottom side Hamilton. Rangers have a trip to Motherwell while Montrose are also on the road to face Aberdeen.

How to follow on BBC

Glasgow City v Hibernian (16:10 GMT) is live on BBC Alba. You can also watch that game and Celtic v Partick Thistle (14:00) on the BBC Sport app and website as well as iPlayer.

Match reports from all of Sunday's games will be available on the BBC Sport website and app.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Jennifer Currie (Partick Thistle): Made a brave late save to deny Aberdeen an equaliser and ensure the Jags returned to winning ways after a four-game losing streak.

Erin Husband (Hearts): Defender well and her energy and tenacity was key to Hearts' second-half derby comeback against Hibs.

Jenna Ferguson (Partick Thistle): Back in the starting line-up and was calm and composed in a Thistle backline that kept a clean sheet.

Chloe Warrington (Glasgow City): Got the league leaders off the mark with a composed finish for her first goal of the season.

Laura Berry (Rangers): Netted the leveller just before half-time against Celtic to galvanise her side and inspire an improved display.

Natalia Wrobel (Glasgow City): The Poland international made her mark despite only playing the first half. She set up City's opener then scored two in the hammering of Montrose.

Mia McAulay (Rangers): Composed when scoring the late Old Firm derby winner. Controlled the ball well and kept calm to dispatch a lovely finish. Also provided the assist for the equaliser and was a real threat.

Bayley Hutchison (Hearts): Used her strength and pace well and was key to Hearts' turnaround in fortunes. Great delivery for leveller and netted from close range.

Carla Boyce (Motherwell): Helped Motherwell to a significant derby win at Hamilton as they moved into the top six. In a scrappy game she was the bright spark with two important goals.

Saoirse Noonan (Celtic): Although her team lost, the striker worked tirelessly and was on the scoresheet.

Carly Johns (Hearts): Netted a double to prove again how important she is to this Hearts side.

Image source, Glasgow City FC

Glasgow City have completed the pre-contract signing of "exciting young talent" Tao Stark from Finnish side KuPS.

The 21-year-old Finnish midfielder has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal from January.

Stark has joined up with City - who face Sporting Club in the second leg of their Europa Cup last-16 tie on Wednesday - and will train with the squad before being eligible to play in the new year.

She has made more than 50 appearances for KuPS and earlier this year received a first call-up to the senior Finland squad.

"Tao is an exciting young talent, and somebody we are delighted to bring to the club," said City head coach Leanne Ross.

"We see a lot of potential in her and we are confident she will add a real presence to our midfield as she continues her development with us."

Image source, SNS

Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton: "It was a tricky start. We were really disappointed with the manner in which we started the game, we were really nervous and invited a lot of pressure.

"I think we rode our luck, at 1-0 we were lucky but the response towards the end of the first half to try and get level was really good."

Celtic boss Elena Sadiku: "Looking at the first half, we were totally dominant and we should have been at least 2-0 up.

"I'm not happy with how we conceded the 2-1 goal or the 3-2 goal. I'm very frustrated and disappointed.

"Morgan Cross was a big part of why we were successful in the first half so when we lost her it changed the whole dynamic in the team. I am still proud of the team, they tried to give everything they had."

Image source, SNS

Celtic are winless in eight Old Firm derbies - but head coach Elena Sadiku insists there's more pressure on Rangers in Friday night's meeting at Ibrox.

Celtic have failed to beat Rangers since March 2024, losing five and drawing three of the subsequent meetings.

However, Sadiku's third-place side are three points above the Ibrox team heading into the latest derby, which you can watch live on BBC Alba and the BBC Sport website and app.

"I'm so excited, I said to the players yesterday, the Glasgow derbies are the best games, we know what it means," said Sadiku.

"It's more than just a game, the most exciting part of playing in this league is playing Rangers.

"The belief is going to be stronger than tactics. The desire, the togetherness and everything that we've talked about during this week is going to be very, very important.

"The players have been brilliant this week. The energy, the vibe, the focus. I'm really happy with how this week has gone.

"We know we need to learn from the previous game when we lost and make sure that we try to execute much, much better.

"There's a bigger pressure on Rangers because they're behind us but we have a lot of games in front of us.

"It's about showing up and showing desire and showing passion and showing how much we want it."

Image source, SNS

Head coach Leanne Crichton insists there are "so many positives" to playing at Ibrox despite Rangers' patchy record there as they eye Old Firm derby victory on Friday night.

Rangers have won just one of their three league games at Ibrox this season - losing to Glasgow City and drawing with Hearts - before Celtic's visit to Govan, live on BBC Alba and the BBC Sport website and app.

"It's a brilliant opportunity, any Friday night game for me always feels better than a Sunday afternoon," said Crichton.

"I don't know if it's just the evening fixture under the lights. The fact that more often than not more people will come out to the game. We hope we can lean on that. We hope the fans will come and support us and get behind us.

"The players love it. They thrive in it. I know people go on about Ibrox and at times it's not been kind in terms of the results we would have wanted and that's been the same this season on a couple of occasions, but performances have been there.

"There's been so many positives. I don't think you can complain or be frustrated at playing at Ibrox. The arena that it is, the quality of the surface, everything it gives us in terms of the preparation and the pre-match experience, that coupled with the fan experience and the game throughout. Hopefully we can maximise that."

Crichton, who was appointed on a three-year deal in the summer, won the first meeting with Celtic 2-0 in September and is craving another derby triumph with her side fifth in the table after 10 games, nine points behind leaders Glasgow City.

"In Glasgow and to both teams, it's one that you really want to win," the former Scotland midfielder added.

"It's one that you love the fact it's in the diary. I really enjoyed the experience earlier on in the season and was even more pleased and delighted with our performance that day and the result. Hopefully we can go and replicate that."

Watch the goals as Glasgow City draw 1-1 at home to Sporting in the first leg of their Europa Cup last-16 tie.

Image source, Uefa via Getty

Glasgow City's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Cup remain in the balance as Sporting Club came from behind to earn a draw at Petershill.

The SWPL leaders took a first-half lead in the first leg of their last-16 tie when Natalia Wrobel lashed a precise shot into the bottom corner from inside the box.

However, Telma Encarnacao's superb volley from a corner kick pulled the Portuguese club level with 15 minutes to go.

Glasgow City midfielder Natalia Wrobel: "It was really tough. High intensity for 90 minutes. I think we deserved to win the game. But in the second leg we'll go for it.

"We were organised defensively and tried to transfer the ball forward. It was hard but we did our best today. It's 1-1 and we have something to fight for."

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "I felt we lacked a bit of control, especially in the second half. I wanted us to get the ball down and play a bit more football. Still, we had chances and it's finely poised for the second leg.

"We played really well in the first half and we had the control we wanted. But good teams are always going to come back into it and they did in the second half.

"I still thought we defended well at times. And it's taken a really decent goal for them to get back into the game. So a lot of pleasing aspects for us but a lot to improve ahead of next week as well."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta has been talking to the media after selecting her squad for the upcoming friendlies against Ukraine and China.

Here are the key points:

• "Let's build on what we've built so far" is Andreatta's message prior to fixtures that mark Scotland's final preparation before World Cup qualifying starts next year.

• She adds: "Two tough games against teams that are in form, that are flying high in confidence, but so are we. Two teams who are taking these two games very seriously."

• Andreatta - who has one win in her opening four games - is pleased with the progress she has seen since taking charge, but says there are aspects "we need to tighten up", adding: "There's things we can always improve on and with this group, that's what they're hungry to do."

• The former Australia assistant coach called for fans to get behind the men's and women's teams as they seek World Cup qualification: "Doesn't matter if it's a Caroline [Weir] or [Scott] McTominay wearing the tartan blue. Get behind both teams because we're representing you and this nation to do you proud."

• On Aston Villa midfielder Miri Taylor's first call-up after switching allegiance from England, Andreatta says the 25-year-old comes into camp with good form having "shown her qualities". While it is a "very competitive position" in the squad, Taylor's "holding midfield qualities is something want to look at".

Image source, SNS

Glasgow City forward Sofia Maatta has been named the SWPL player of the month for October.

The Finland international scored and recorded an assist in City's 2-1 win against Celtic as Leanne Ross' table-topping side maintained their unbeaten domestic start with two league victories and a draw.

Maatta also netted a double in the 5-0 SWPL Cup victory over Hamilton.