Scottish Women's Football

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Parkhead

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Celtic Park was the stage in May when Celtic clinched their maiden SWPL title, and there was another first to celebrate as they took a shock lead on 22 minutes.

Amy Gallacher produced an outstanding assist for Murphy Agnew to send an already loud home support wild.

It was the kind of move seen often from Elena Sadiku's side in the SWPL, but not in their opening defeats to Twente and Real Madrid in this competition.

The head coach said she had seen signs of growth and there was more evidence of that here.

Emma Lawton, who was playing part-time football as recently as early September, impressed again and contained half-time substitute Guro Reiten with relative ease, while Shannon McGregor was a force in midfield.

They frustrated Chelsea for large parts, even when they grew tired with their 120-minute match against Glasgow City catching up with them.

There was time for a second wind and Lucy Ashworth-Clifford showed remarkable stamina, showing no fear against previous Champions League winner Lucy Bronze, who had been introduced at half time.

Many feared a heavy loss for the Scottish champions and they can take a heap of pride from this performance.

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Lucy Ashworth-Clifford was immense all night for Celtic, looked very dangerous on the wing and put Chelsea under pressure on numerous occasions. Despite having started on Sunday as well as tonight, the attacker never looked tired.

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Former manager Fran Alonso is hoping for a "miracle" when Celtic take on heavyweights Chelsea in tonight's Champions League clash.

Alonso left the Glasgow club to charge at Houston Dash in America last year and was replaced by current boss Elena Sadiku, who will lead the side out at their first Champions League game to be played at Parkhead.

Chelsea - who have won the English title five years running - are top of Group B after two wins from two, while Celtic sit bottom after defeats by Twente and Real Madrid.

"They will be feeling very excited," Alonso told BBC Scotland.

"It does not come any better than playing at Celtic Park in front of the most passionate fans in the women's game and against probably the toughest opponent you can face right now in Europe.

"The opponent is fantastic and the competition is fantastic so I'm hoping we have a huge crowd and see an environment that everyone can enjoy.

"It's going to be tough to take points from Chelsea. They are undefeated in the Women's Super League and undefeated in the Champions League.

"But I'm hopeful that with the fans and some set-plays then maybe the miracle can happen."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"To have the whole team experience it is definitely a positive because I remember it being quite daunting when we did it for the first time with a big crowd."

Captain Kelly Clark is calling for her team-mates to use their past experiences of playing at Celtic Park when the SWPL champions take to the Parkhead turf for the first time in the Champions League tonight.

Elena Sadiku's side played their first game in Europe's elite competition at their new home of New Douglas Park in Hamilton, but will hear the Champions League music ring around Glasgow's East End tonight when Chelsea are in town.

Celtic haven't played at the stadium since unfurling the SWPL flag on the opening day of the season against Dundee United, but Clark is urging her team-mates to cast their minds back to that victorious day.

"We don't play here every week, so I think it was good we played the first game of the season here because it means everyone in the squad has experienced it," the defender said.

"Twente was very loud, but there's potential for it to be even louder on Wednesday night and it genuinely does change the game because you can't communicate the way you usually do and obviously, it's a bit of a mental game.

"You have to know what to expect to kind of ignore it. It's brilliant and you use it for energy, but in the grand scheme of things it's 11v11 like any other game, as hard as that is to put into practice."

Celtic clinched their maiden league title in May, which set them on the pathway for Champions League qualification, and Clark insists tonight's occasion is right up there with that historic day.

"It's the stuff dreams are made of," she added.

"Seeing the Champions League branding everywhere, to walk out to hopefully hear a big crowd cheer, to see my parents in the stand, my family, my grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, the lot, it's a huge occasion and I can't wait for it."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"As a football player, see if you get a bit of a hostile reception, I think it's the best thing."

It's a good thing Erin Cuthbert revels in that kind of environment, as it could well be the once she faces tomorrow at Celtic Park.

The Chelsea midfielder is from a family of Rangers fans and on her return to Glasgow with the WSL champions, she's aware a warm welcome is unlikely, but that doesn't faze her.

"We've played at the Emirates many times," the Scotland international said, "we're used to playing in big games where there is an atmosphere and the opposition wants to make it as difficult as possible.

"We enjoy it and we thrive on it. It's just about putting my best foot forward tomorrow night."

Cuthbert is used to doing that in Glasgow, having played for Rangers and Glasgow City before heading south of the border.

She left her homeland as a self-confessed "really young and naive 18-year-old girl who was working in Morrison's" but returns as "a leader" of one of the world's biggest clubs, according to head coach Sonia Bompastor.

"This was beyond my wildest dreams," Cuthbert added, "playing for Chelsea as much as I have, I feel very lucky and privileged but for me, it's never about being settled.

"It's a moment to reflect how far I've come, but also how much work I've still got to do and how far I can go. I want to know where my ceiling is."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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"Looking at her, how she talks about the team, how she's perceived as a coach is how I want to be perceived as a coach as well."

Elena Sadiku has plenty of admiration for Sonia Bompastor, hailing the Chelsea boss as "a great role model" as the two prepare to face off at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

It will be the first Women's Champions League match to be staged in Glasgow's East End, and has the added spice of a battle of Britain clash.

"I don't think we're going to have a bigger test than this, but we've talked about this within the team, this is something we've dreamed about so we have to enjoy the occasion and put the best performance in we can," Sadiku said when previewing Celtic's third game in Group B.

The SWPL champions have suffered back-to-back defeats to FC Twente and Real Madrid in Europe's elite competition, while WSL champions Chelsea sit top of the group with two wins from two.

Bompastor, a Champions League winner in her homeland with Lyon, was brought to London in the summer with the view of guiding Chelsea to a first victory in this competition.

And Sadiku is one of many enthusiasts of the former France international's work.

"She barely talks about herself, she always talks about the team and that shows the leader she is," the Celtic head coach added.

"I think we're only four female coaches in the competition and that's something I want to see more of.

"I want to see more female coaches of female teams especially. She's a great role model for a lot of coaches like me."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

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Head coach Elena Sadiku spoke to the media before Celtic's Champions League match against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Here are the key things she said:

• Sadiku "doesn't think we're going to have a bigger test than this" when her side face the Women's Super League champions.

• The head coach has "huge respect" for Chelsea as a team and is a real admirer of opposite number Sonia Bompastor adding, "how she's perceived as a coach is how I want to be perceived".

• She believes Celtic have "grown in the competition" when you look at the differences between Twente on matchday one and Real Madrid on matchday two: "Against Real Madrid we were confident enough to play, we got pressure on, we love the pressure and we just showed no fear in what we want to do."

• Sadiku says Caitlin Hayes, who missed the last two games, has been "resting", despite speculation the defender had been suspended by the club.

• The SWPL champions will play at Celtic Park for the first time in the Champions League and when asked about attendance, Sadiku says: "If you're a Celtic fan, you should support the big history the club are creating."

• Defender Hana Kerner and forward Kit Loferski are the only two absentees.

Scotland forward Erin Cuthbert says Celtic have "speedy, tricky players" who can cause her Chelsea side problems in a "tough" Champions League game between the sides on Wednesday night.

Hear more from Cuthbert on the Behind the Goals podcast

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Boroughmuir Thistle head coach Andy Enwood: "I want to credit the players, I'm really happy with what they did. They've been working on a new shape the last few weeks, so to implement that against a SWPL 1 team, in the manner they did, I'm really happy.

"We ran out of steam a bit at the end and we had to go chasing a bit, but the first half was very comfortable. We were dangerous on the break, and on top of our goal we had a few more opportunities we could have taken."

Aberdeen head coach Scott Booth: "It was as challenging as we expected. They’re a strong side, and they caused us problems, catching us off guard early in the game. It was a disappointing goal for us to concede, but we managed to get back into the game.

"In the first half, we didn’t trouble them too much, and I had a few words with the players at half-time. I felt we were a bit passive, especially in possession. We needed to assert ourselves more and show greater authority in the game.

"The response in the second half was excellent. The players deserve credit for coming from behind, especially after the last week they’ve had. It hasn’t been easy for them. It would have been easy to let their heads drop, especially given the physical toll of playing two tough games in one week. But they rallied, and even though we got that first goal, we continued to push for more."

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Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "With the highs of last year, getting to the final, you want that again. We're well in the game at half time, but if you look at the second half you saw how powerful and strong Hibs are this season.

"Look at their firepower. Kathleen McGovern scoring goals, Eilidh Adams to come on. You've got really good technical players and their quality shone through at the end and that's what we're lacking in our team.

"We're striving to be that. We worked extremely hard for each other but you can't lose three goals in eight minutes. That's very frustrating on our part."

Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "We know it's a difficult place to come and a difficult opponent, we have a lot of respect for Thistle. It's always sweet to win and we're delighted as a group.

"We started the game really well, looked like we were on it and then we lost our way for 10 or 15 minuted and offered Thistle momentum. We had to weather that. We wanted the girls to settle down in the second half.

"It was similar to last week. We wanted to be better at the basic things. It doesn't have to be flash. We did that second half and it gave us a platform."

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Rangers head coach Jo Potter: "I’m really pleased with the performance. You can see in the some of the goals that we scored were great passages of play. I said before the game that I wanted to see some bits and pieces from training and they definitely did that. I was pleased at full-time.

"The start that we had is so important to us. I think when you start games like that then it gives you the confidence and freedom to play a certain way and relax into the game.

"We could have easily come off it in the second half with the scoreline as it was, but we didn’t and we kept pushing. We did really well to score another three goals in the second half.

"We keep saying a hat-trick for Wilko, don’t we? I think she’s been disappointed that she’s not been scoring more in the last couple of weeks because she sets such high standards for herself.

"She scores or assists in nearly every single game. It’s a tremendous amount of goals for the middle of November. Hopefully she can carry it on."

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Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: "Right now, I'm buzzing. I feel very, very proud of the girls and the team effort tonight. We know we can play better, but how we fought as a team and the chances we created - even without playing the best football - and how we fought for each other - I'm so proud.

"Glasgow City, credit to them, they're a great team. But the statement tonight was 'it doesn't matter what kind of busy schedule we have', we know we have our eyes on the goal and that's being as successful as possible.

"How the team showed up tonight, how they executed the game plan, coming into the second half and extra time with that energy, we dominated that."

Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "I don't want to sound like a sore loser, but it was a terrible game to watch. Neither team was at their best and it was destined to go to extra-time and penalties. We didn't deserve to win today.

"Somebody has to score the winner, someone has to miss. We need to make sure the players bounce back next week when the league comes back around."

Were you at any of the weekend's SWPL Cup games or following the action from home? Either way, we want your thoughts on the action.

Have your say, external.

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Two penalty shoot-out saves from Celtic goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty took Elena Sadiku's side into the SWPL Cup semi-finals after a goalless 120 minutes against Glasgow City.

Celtic inflicted City's only league defeat this season in August and only a string of saves from City keeper Lee Gibson kept them from producing a repeat result in 90 minutes at New Douglas Park.

However, after extra-time failed to produce a winner, it was her opposite number who came to the fore as Celtic won the shoot-out 4-3.

In Sunday's other quarter-finals, a Kathleen McGovern hat-trick helped Hibs beat Partick Thistle 4-1, while Aberdeen secured their first win under head coach Scott Booth with a 3-1 victory against Boroughmuir Thistle.

Defending champions Rangers progressed to the last four on Saturday with an 8-1 win over Motherwell.

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Rangers cruised into the semi-finals of the SWPL Cup with a dominant 8-1 win over Motherwell at K-Park.

Goals from Leah Eddie, Charlie Devlin and Rio Hardy put Rangers three goals to the good, before Amy Sharkey pulled one back for Motherwell.

However, two goals before the break from the prolific Katie Wilkinson put Rangers in total control at half-time, and she would go on to complete her hat-trick on 73 minutes with a free-kick.

Liv McLoughlin and Kirsty Howat added further gloss to the scoreline late on for the defending champions.

In Sunday's quarter-final fixtures, Boroughmuir Thistle host Aberdeen, Hibernian face Partick Thistle and Celtic take on Glasgow City live on BBC Alba.

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It's the return of the League Cup as we head into the quarter-final stage, with one of the 'big three' certain to be eliminated.

That's because Celtic play host to Glasgow City, in what we've deemed to be the tie of the round - and it's also live on BBC Alba from 16:00 on Sunday.

It's a repeat of the final in 2021 - which Celtic won 1-0 thanks to a Caitlin Hayes goal - and a repeat of last year's quarter-finals - which Celtic won 3-0.

In the league, things have been a little different this year. City sit top of the SWPL table, but are only a point ahead of Rangers and Hearts.

Celtic meanwhile, have had to deal with the complication of European group stage football for the very first time and that will be in head coach Elena Sadiku's thinking again, with Chelsea visiting Celtic Park next Wednesday.

This is the start of a very tough run for Sadiku's side. After Chelsea, they host Rangers in a pivotal SWPL clash before visiting Stamford Bridge in more Champions League action.

Perhaps that will affect Sadiku's squad selection, but she can rely on the fact her side have had the best of City in recent encounters. They've won six of the last 10 games, with City only victorious twice.

City are also looking for their first League Cup triumph since 2015 - an almost 10-year wait for a trophy they've won six times in their history.

The other quarter-finals are as follows:

Partick Thistle v Hibernian

Motherwell v Rangers

Boroughmuir Thistle v Aberdeen

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Hearts' 16-year-old defender Erin Husband has won the SWPL player of the month award for October.

Husband has played 11 games this season - her first full campaign - and helped Eva Olid's side to a strong start where they sit third, just a point off the top.

The teenager started all of Hearts' October games as they won three out of three, including a 1-0 victory over defending champpions Celtic.

Kilmarnock's Abby Robinson won the SWPL 2 player of the month award after the midfielder scored twice and provided an assist in her side's three wins in October.

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay has being drawn with "tasty opponents" Germany, Netherlands and Austria in Nations League A is a difficult draw but "good challenge" for Pedro Martinez Losa's side.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Back among the heavyweights, Scotland have been drawn with a couple of big hitters on their return to Nations League A.

But with a spot at next summer's European Championships still in their sights, it's the sort of sides - Germany and Netherlands as well as Austria - the Scots will want to wrestle with.

In the last international window, when Scotland were competing in crucial play-offs, Germany were tormenting England in a friendly.

There wasn't many things friendly about it, certainly not the way in which the Germans rushed into a 3-0 lead and exposed England's weaknesses in defence.

All that sounds incredibly daunting given that fewer than 12 months ago, England ripped Scotland apart and annihilated them 6-0.

However, Sarina Weigman's side shed light on the Germans' weakness too, also in defence, so Scotland's on-form attack will need to remain just that come spring next year.

It doesn't get any easier with Netherlands, and the memories from back-to-back defeats to the Dutch last year are still fresh in the mind.

Particularly in Nijmegen, the classy Dutch were commanding and a level above. Remember, though, that was without any of Sam Kerr, Erin Cuthbert and Caroline Weir in the midfield.

Narrowing the gap from last year would be marked improvement against Andries Jonker's side, while giving the Germans a scare would be a shout. But the picking up of points will be looked to be done against Austria.

Two years ago, Scotland hosted Austria in the World Cup play-off semi-final. They were far from their best but managed to sneak through in extremely un-Scottish fashion, scoring a late winner.

Scotland have improved since then. Pedro Martinez Losa believes it, his players believe it, and the run of results they've racked up recently proves it.

Tougher tests than the ones they've faced this year await, but should Scotland get the job done against Finland in the coming weeks and book their spot in next summer's Euros, these Nations League games will act as the starter before the main meal in Switzerland.

Gully Singh
BBC Sport Scotland

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Pedro Martinez Losa believes Scotland's 2025 Nations League group is the "second most difficult", but says his side "are ready to go" in the top tier again.

The Scots were promoted back to League A following an unbeaten Euro qualifying campaign this year.

They finished bottom of Group A1 in 2023 after drawing twice with Belgium and losing home and away to England and Netherlands.

Martinez Losa's side face the Dutch again, as well as Germany and Austria, with the group stage running from February to early June.

"We're very pleased to come back to League A," the head coach told BBC Scotland.

"Teams like Netherlands you always in theory want to avoid, but at the end you have to play against some of them.

"I don't think we got the worst - the most difficult group has England and Spain - but probably the second most difficult.

"In terms of having to compete against Germany and Netherlands, we already know them well and also Austria is a very competitive team, so I'm excited in one part.

"We’re ready to go and celebrate the women's game with the fans and challenge ourselves, which is what it is about, but also respecting the opponent and thinking that it's going to be difficult for us. But we will be prepared."