Just three days after losing to their city rivals in the Glasgow derby, Elena Sadiku and her side turn their sights back to the Champions League as they face off against reigning WSL champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The first meeting of the two sides took place at Celtic Park last Wednesday, where the blues came out 2-1 victors. A much-changed Chelsea side took to the Parkhead turf and were met with a Celtic team who were stubborn and roared on in their play by the home support.
The Glasgow side took a surprising lead trough Murphy Agnew who calmly slotted the ball past Musovic after 20 minutes. This lead was short lived as the visitors responded with two goals in four minutes. Maika Hamano scored the leveller before Ashley Lawrence fired the ball into the roof of the net in what would go on to be the winning goal.
Tonight’s clash gives Celtic the chance to bounce back and continue to prove they can compete with the best. On the flip side, it gives Chelsea a chance to build on their run of form after defeating fellow title contenders Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday. With blues captain Millie Bright stating:
“As a Chelsea squad, we have standards. We want to set those every single day in training and then against any opponent that we have. Obviously, it was a big performance and a big game, but it’s all eyes on the next game and making sure we deliver.”
Celtic boss Elena Sadiku will want to right a few wrongs after being sent off in their SWPL match against Rangers and urges her side to show the same fight and desire as they did last Wednesday:
“It was my first and my last [red card]. In the last performance against Chelsea it was pretty clear how much we fought together as a team and how strong we were as a team. Losing to Rangers the way we did, I don’t think it took anything away from us. We’re now even more hungry. It’s all about how we step up again.”
Emma Lawton, Scotland under 23 international, is excited by the prospect of testing herself against one of the best teams in the world. The full back continues to impress in the green and white hoops after making her move to full time football from fellow SWPL side Partick Thistle.
Lawton has cemented her place in the Celtic starting 11 and looks ahead to the group stage match:
“In the Champions League, playing against some of the best players in the world is, for me, what I want to do. You want to go and challenge yourself and learn as much as you can, so that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Will the SWPL underdogs or the WSL giants take the UK bragging rights? Stamford Bridge plays host to this exciting tie with the game kicking off at 8pm.