Scottish Women's Football

Image source, SNS

Celtic will face Lithuanian hosts FC Gintra in the final of Champions League qualifying round one on Saturday (16:00 BST).

After Celtic beat Finnish KuPS 3-1 in extra time on Wednesday, Gintra thrashed Anenii Noi of Moldova 5-0.

The winners of the final will progress to a two-legged tie for a place in the group stages.

Meanwhile, Rangers - whose hopes of advancing were ended by a 6-0 defeat from Arsenal - play Atletico Madrid in a third place play-off on Saturday (13:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

Rangers assistant manager Jay Bradford believes the 6-0 scoreline against Arsenal in the Champions League was perhaps harsh on the SWPL leaders.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Rangers were doing a decent job of frustrating the WSL side, but could not sustain it into the second half as they shipped a further five goals.

"People will look at the score line and think one thing," Bradford told BBC Sport.

"But if you were here - we were in a game. We just have to learn from moments. It can't go from two, to three, to four, that quickly.

"At 2-0 we should've consolidated, gone back into our defensive shape and built our way back into the game and we didn't quite do that.

"We'll learn from it. It was a big moment for us tonight, we weren't in the Champions League last year. It's been an experience for the players and one they will learn from.

"Even at half-time the conversations we had in the dressing room we felt we hadn't reached our levels. We felt like we had more to give, which was a massive positive for us.

"But we came out second half and we didn't quite kick on like we should have and a team like that will punish you."

Rangers fans, we want to know your views on Wednesday night's 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League.

What do Rangers need to do to make strides in Europe and close the gap?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

Image source, SNS

Elena Sadiku says staying calm was crucial to Celtic's victory over KuPs as they moved into the final of qualifying round one.

The Scottish champions came from behind to win 3-1 thanks to substitute Saoirse Noonan's hat-trick in Lithuania.

Sadiku's side will face either host club Gintra or Anenii Noi of Moldova in Saturday's final, where the winners progress to a two-legged tie for a place in the group stage.

"The performance was really good," head coach Sadiku told club media, external.

"I think we controlled the game. It was a good, important win and that is why we're here, we came to win.

"I was very calm at half-time, the girls were also calm.

"It's not like we were really bad, we just need to be in control, not stressed and that's what we did in the second half.

"I think the changes made a great impact on the game too and that's exactly why they came in.

"We've been working so hard on our fitness and after 60 minutes I knew it was going to get easier and easier for us to move the ball quicker.

"I was so proud of how the girls responded form the half-time talk, they were calm and believed in what we do.

"We're here for one reason only and that's qualifying for round two."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

With an hour played, it looked worrying for Celtic fans watching on as their team trailed 1-0 to Finnish side KuPS in their Champions League qualifier.

KuPS were dominant in the first half and goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty kept Elena Sadiku's side in the game with some big saves.

Step up Saoirse Noonan.

The striker was brought on after 62 minutes, scored her first goal on 64 and took the match to extra time.

Not even 10 minutes into the added period and Noonan found herself on the scoresheet, twice.

In last season's title-winning campaign, on-loan striker Natasha Flint played a massive part in key victories, popping up with important goals when it mattered most despite having only joined the club in January.

When she left, the concern was who would fill the goalscoring void?

Celtic have hardly struggled for goals, the likes of Caitlin Hayes, Colette Cavanagh and Amy Gallacher have got on the scoresheet when required, the latter having netted the injury-time goal that won them the title.

But the lack of an out-and-out striker was evident.

Then Republic of Ireland international Noonan joined Sadiku's side in the summer and hasn't looked out of place.

Wednesday's hat-trick made it six goals from six games for the striker and raised questions of why she wasn't on from the start.

One thing is evident though. With Noonan in the team Celtic should be able to make their mark on the top European competition, with only Luthuanians Gintra or Anenii Noi of Moldova now standing between Sadiku's side and the second qualifying round.

We want your views as Celtic came from a goal behind to defeat Finnish side KuPs 3-1 in extra-time.

What did you make of the performance? How are you feeling about Celtic's chances in the competition?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Rangers "can't put Arsenal on a pedestal," says head coach Jo Potter as her SWPL side prepare to face the Women's Super League giants in Champions League qualifying on Wednesday night.

Potter, who spent a season at Arsenal as a player, is urging her team to "flip the mindset" and lean on their early-season form, which sees them top of the league.

"This is the toughest group that we could have drawn and you can look at that in two ways," Potter said at her pre-match press conference at Meadow Park in London.

"You can be defeatist about it or you can be really excited about the challenge."

Few know better than Potter about the test that lies ahead, though she also notes this "isn't ideal for Arsenal", who are a few weeks away from the start of their league season.

"No WSL teams want to play you when you’re in season," the former England midfielder added.

"We do know that we’re further along in our preparations than Arsenal and they’ll be trying to claw that back a little bit, so that’s one area we can try to take advantage of.

"We can’t really put Arsenal on too much of a pedestal to say that they’re untouchable and not there to be got at. That’s totally untrue.

"We've got to try to take advantage of these moments and look at areas where we can hurt them.

"It’s not about Arsenal being ‘up here’ and us being ‘way down here and trying to catch up', it’s about recognising moments when we can potentially hurt them."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Captain Nicola Docherty says Rangers are not interested in "just making up the numbers" in the Champions League as they prepare to face Arsenal in qualifying.

The Scottish side face the WSL club at Meadow Park on Wednesday and a statement victory would send them through to play Atletico Madrid or Rosenborg in the second round.

Scotland defender Docherty says beating Arsenal would be a "career highlight" and insists her team are "raring to go" and determined to "come out on top".

"When you look at the WSL and the league in Scotland, there’s obviously a gap there," the full-back added.

"We're trying to bridge that at Rangers, [so] if we were to do a job against Arsenal that would be right up there as a career highlight.

"As soon as you come into this competition, it's tough at the top. But we're not here to make up the numbers, we're here to challenge Arsenal and really take the game to them.

"We really want to challenge in the Champions League and not be satisfied just to make it into qualifying. We actually want to compete and that’s something that starts against Arsenal."

Image source, SNS

"Astute" defending holds the key to Celtic's hopes of reaching the Women's Champions League group stage for the first time.

That's the verdict of Scotland captain and Aston Villa defender Rachel Corsie, who is backing Elena Sadiku's side to achieve the historic feat.

If Celtic beat KuPS of Finland in Lithuania on Wednesday (10:00 BST) they will meet host club FC Gintra or Moldovan side Agarista CSF in the final of qualifying round one, where the winners progress to a two-legged tie for a place in the group stage.

"I feel optimistic for Celtic, the first tie will be the trickier of the two," said Corsie on the BBC's Behind The Goals podcast.

"It's quite an unusual set-up, that's what adds to the difficulty, not just the opposition.

"Maybe this is naive but I do feel Celtic have a good opportunity to get through this and get into the group stage, which would be an incredible achievement.

"When you look at the sides in the group stages, you're talking about a lot of the top teams in Europe, not many teams get there.

"You have to be good defensively. Celtic have good players that can score and get that goal but you have to be really astute defensively.

"If they can do that and limit opportunities then they will come through the two games, I feel optimistic about it."

Jo Potter says there were "mixed emotions in the room" when the Rangers squad watched the Champions League qualifying draw that paired them with Arsenal, but the Ibrox head coach is relishing the daunting task.

Listen to Rangers and Celtic Champions League preview on Behind The Goals podcast

We asked for your views on the weekend's SWPL action.

Here's what some of you said:

Anon: Most games have been a bit close for some, but yet another week and Rangers put 10 past a hapless Dundee United. if I'm correct Rangers have now scored 45 goals for and zero against. It just shows what they have been playing, build up the goals and the rest takes care of itself.

Cameron: I think Hibs have a chance at a cup or Europe this year!

Alan: Jo Potter fairly has the Rangers girls playing at a scorching pace. It's great to see their attitude and determination. Great to see Hearts and Hibs doing so well, too. Friday's salt 'n' sauce derby will be the match of the season to date.

Kelsey Daugherty (Celtic): Made some vital saves for Celtic keeping Hibs out. Instrumental in ensuring Celtic picked up a point rather than a loss.

Emma Brownlie (Hearts): Showed her attacking intent with two goals and an assist for Hearts' opener.

Siobhan Hunter (Hibs): Was solid defensively playing a key role in helping Hibs to an impressive point against Celtic. Her thunderous free kick near the end of the game wasn’t far away either.

Cassie Cowper (Montrose): Helped Montrose to their first win of the season not just with two assists but played a part in keeping a clean sheet for her side.

Jess Husband (Hearts): The teenager is fast becoming an important player for Hearts. Back to back appearances in the team of the week, this week for two big assists.

Louise Brown (Montrose): Scored two goals to set Montrose on their way to their first league win of the season. Kept her cool when stepping up for the penalty.

Lisa Robertson (Hearts): Scored her first goal for Hearts, and it came after good vision and execution.

Mia McAulay (Rangers): She was back in the starting line-up and was thick in amongst it. Two assists, and constantly looking to get forward to set up attacks.

Carla Boyce (Partick Thistle): Recovered well from missing an earlier chance to go and net an important equaliser for Thistle. A strong header sealed a big point.

Laura Berry (Rangers): A first start and fair to say she grabbed her opportunity. Three goals, two assists and there could have more, a constant attacking threat.

Katie Wilkinson (Rangers): Will a week go by when this player isn’t in the team of the week? Set the tone for Rangers by grabbing a goal after a minute, after which she went onto score ANOTHER hat-trick.

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

Spartans manager Jack Beesley:

"I'm really pleased.

"We asked for a performance because I feel we let ourselves down performance-wise last week.

"We knew we wouldn't have much of the ball but I thought without the ball we were committed, disciplined, the desire was fantastic. I thought the girls showed really good resilience.

"Ironically just before the second goal goes in we're getting greedy and thinking how can we make a change to get something from the game, which, after 85 minutes against Glasgow City you think you're dreaming.

"Disappointed for the second goal to go in but I think the performance was really good."

Glasgow City manager Leanne Ross:

"It was a pretty poor performance from my team and I let them know that.

"We set higher standards for ourselves but we've come away with three points, two goals and a clean sheet as well as a competitive debut for Ava Easdon in goal and seeing Brenna Lovera back on the pitch."

Image source, SNS

Queen's Park manager Craig Joyce:

"I thought we didn't start too well, we were too slow in getting on the press and the counter-press which is an area we pride ourselves on.

"When we went to 10 players it took a minute for us to settle ourselves but I thought the girls battled for each other."

Montrose manager Craig Feroz:

"We needed to get something from the game, it was a cup final for us definitely.

"I thought Louise Brown was excellent, two good goals, it has been a hard start for us and thankfully we've got something from the game."

Image source, SNS

Hearts boss Eva Olid:

"I thought we kept the ball well but we didn't manage to find the passes forward to attack because they were pressing us very high.

"Once we found the space we started playing better and getting into the box more."

Motherwell assistant manager Leanne Crichton:

"We know the side that Hearts are, they're going to be pushing at the top end of the table so for us it was about what we could take away from the game.

"Ultimately we're disappointed with the goals we've conceded but that is something we can look at to try and address as the season goes on.

"I can't fault the players because they gave us everything."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United boss Suzy Shepherd:

"These games we always know are going to be extremely challenging but for us the first half wasn't acceptable and the players were told that at half-time.

"In the second-half there was a lot more fight, a lot more aggression, you could tell they were hurting but we need to do that from the start of games."

Rangers assistant coach Jay Bradford:

"I thought we were very dominant, came out of the traps really quickly and stayed that way throughout.

"We added and strengthened in the summer which is what we needed to do, the squad is in a really good place so we go into Wednesday's game [against Arsenal] full of confidence."

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham:

"People will say it was a great comeback but I'm actually disappointed in our performance.

"I don't think we were great for 75 minutes. We have started the season really poorly in my eyes, it's not good enough.

"If there was another five minutes we probably would have won the game but that should have been there from the get go."

Aberdeen captain Hannah Stewart:

"Ultimately we're all disappointed.

"We go in 1-0 up at half time, we got the second and we looked quite comfortable. We need to take the positives from it and take that into the next game.

"It's been a tough start on and off the pitch but I think we've shown great resilience and great spirit to stay as a team."

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Elena Sadiku:

"I'm proud of my players. I think we played the football we want to play, we created chances and we should have won.

"We outplayed them, we defended well but for me we should have executed it better.

"We performed really well, we should have scored more goals. The performance is good enough to take to Lithuania.

Hibs manager Grant Scott:

"I think it's a fair result but looking back I think we did have a couple of good chances that if we did take we wouldn't have been grudged a result.

"It's tough to come away to the reigning champions so to get a result, I'm really pleased with that.

"But there is a little bit of what might have been given the chances we created but I'm happy enough."

As another dramatic weekend of SWPL action draws to a close we want to know your views on the weekend's action.

Have your say here, external.

Image source, SNS

After the heartbreak of the way last season panned out, losing the league purely based on goal difference, Rangers have started this season with a point to prove.

Jo Potter's side have scored 33 goals in just four games so far this season, summer signing Katie Wilkinson has netted 11 of those.

The cup double winners are also yet to concede a goal this term as they prepare for Sunday's match against Dundee United.

United are at the other end of the table, having narrowly avoided relegation when they beat Kilmarnock in last season's play-off.

They've massively struggled in their opening games though, having only scored two goals they've conceded 26.

Sunday presents another opportunity for Rangers to add to their goal tally and attempt to make amends for last season's disappointment.