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Well, football fans, get your suits pressed, your predictions ready and your VAR complaints prepared, because the Ballon d’Or is rolling into London tonight!

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place tonight, Monday 26 October, at 8:00 pm GMT, at the London Palladium.

It's the 70th anniversary of football's famous golden prize, and for the first time, London is hosting the ceremony. Thierry Henry and Kate Scott will be presenting the awards.

And here's a statistic worth getting your boots in a twist over: 11 of the 30 nominees for the Women's Ballon d’Or currently play in the Women's Super League.

That's more than a third of the shortlist playing their football in England. The golden ball might only go to one player, but the WSL has certainly brought a few extra footballs to the party.

And according to a new article by Beth Limb on the official WSL website, those nominations are only the tip of the footballing iceberg.

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The numbers don't lie (although VAR might still want another look)

According to league data supplied by Twenty First Group:

• 36 of the world's top 100 players currently play in the WSL. That's 36%, compared with 20% in Spain's Liga F and 17% in France's Première Ligue.
• 16 of the world's top 50 players also play in England, more than in any other league.
• The WSL is home to 12 of the world's top 25 defenders, 11 of the top 25 midfielders and eight of the top 25 attackers.
• Since 2020, the WSL has consistently had more of the world's top 100 players than any other league.

So there's quality at the back, in midfield and up front. The league has practically assembled a full squad of world-class footballers, with enough left over to give the substitutes' bench a serious selection headache.

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It's not just the domestic game getting attention

The article also highlights the WSL's international strength:

• 32% of players who represented one of the world's top 10 national teams over the past year now play their domestic football in the WSL.
• Seven of those 10 national teams have more players in the WSL than in any other domestic league.
• 68% of WSL players have senior international experience, averaging 29 caps each.
• 82 players selected for UEFA Women's Euro 2025 represented WSL clubs.
• Players aged 23–29 accounted for 61% of WSL minutes during the 2025/26 season.

This isn't a league that suddenly discovered the transfer market last Tuesday.

The article looks back at World Cup winners Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath playing in England, while Mariona Caldentey's arrival at Arsenal from Barcelona in 2024 proved another major statement. She won the inaugural WSL Player of the Season award in her first campaign.

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Summer transfers: apparently England's weather wasn't enough to put them off

Four of the world's top 50 players moved to the WSL this summer.

London City Lionesses signed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and defender Mapi León from Barcelona, while Arsenal brought in Ona Batlle from Barcelona and Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich.

And the spending didn't stop there.

London City also recruited Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani, Liverpool added Vivien Endemann and Natalia Ramos, and Tottenham signed Alice Sombath from OL Lyonnes.

You'd think somebody had switched Football Manager's transfer budget setting to unlimited.

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The newcomers have hit the ground running

According to Wyscout's per-90 statistics, using players with at least 300 minutes this season:

Alexia Putellas – London City Lionesses

• Three goals and one assist already.
• 7.6 progressive passes per 90.
• 1.3 chances created per 90.
• Named London City captain just weeks after arriving.

Two Ballon d’Or trophies, goals, assists and the captain's armband. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to English football.

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Mapi León – London City Lionesses

• 12.1 progressive passes per 90 from centre-back.
• Only Arsenal's Leah Williamson averages more among WSL defenders.

Apparently, being a centre-back doesn't mean you have to leave the playmaking to the midfielders.

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Ona Batlle – Arsenal

• 1.7 progressive runs per 90.
• 2.6 crosses per 90.
• 3.1 touches in the opposition box per 90.
• 1.0 key passes per 90.

She's technically a full-back, but somebody might need to remind her where the defensive half is.

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Georgia Stanway – Arsenal

• 81.7 passes per 90, the most of any WSL midfielder.
• 90% passing accuracy.
• 11.6 progressive passes per 90.
• 12.8 passes into the final third per 90.

The latter two figures also lead all WSL midfielders.

She's only been at Arsenal since the summer, but she's already running the midfield like an air traffic controller at Heathrow.

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So what does tonight tell us?

Only one footballer can walk away with the Women's Ballon d’Or, but the WSL's representation demonstrates how much international talent is currently playing in England.

Of course, having the most highly ranked players doesn't automatically settle the debate over which league is the strongest. There's still the small matter of winning football matches, something football fans have been politely disagreeing about since roughly the invention of the sport.

But with 11 nominees, high-profile summer arrivals, and a growing collection of international stars, the WSL certainly has plenty to shout about.

And tonight, London gets to host football's biggest individual awards ceremony for the very first time.

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Now, over to r/soccer:

Who should win the Women's Ballon d’Or tonight?

Does having 36 of the world's top 100 players make the WSL the strongest women's league, or do you think Spain and France still have the edge?

And which summer signing has impressed you the most so far?

Just remember: there are no wrong answers here, unless you're suggesting the award should be decided by a five-minute VAR check and somebody drawing lines on a television screen.

Source: WSL Football – Ballon d’Or 2026: 11 of the 30 nominees play in the WSL

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Article by Beth Limb, published 26 October 2026. League data courtesy of Twenty First Group; per-90 statistics from Wyscout.

FT: Paris Saint-Germain 2 - 0 Lyon

⚽ Paris Saint-Germain: Senny Mayulu 72' 72', Mika Godts 84' 84'

Info	Details
Competition	French Ligue 1
Date	Mon, October 26, 2026
Kickoff	7:30 PM UTC
Status	90'+5'

Line-ups

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)

Starting XI	Bench
39 Matvei Safonov	87 João Neves
51 Willian Pacho	9 Ferran Torres
6 Illia Zabarnyi	33 Warren Zaïre-Emery
2 Achraf Hakimi	11 Maghnes Akliouche
17 Vitinha	14 Désiré Doué
8 Fabián Ruiz	12 Lucas Digne
22 Mika Godts	30 Lucas Chevalier
4 Lucas Beraldo	27 Dro Fernández
24 Senny Mayulu	42 David Boly
47 Quentin Ndjantou
21 Lucas Hernández

Lyon (4-3-3)

Starting XI	Bench
1 Dominik Greif	18 Khalis Merah
19 Moussa Niakhaté	8 Corentin Tolisso
20 Felix Bacher	24 Julien Duranville
16 Abner	23 Tyler Morton
13 Zachary Athekame	22 Clinton Mata
6 Tanner Tessmann	85 Noham Kamara
7 Ernest Nuamah	2 Mads Bidstrup
45 Rémi Himbert	44 Adil Hamdani
21 Ruben Kluivert	40 Rémy Descamps
26 Kail Boudache
99 Noah Nartey

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 45' First Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 0, Lyon 0.
• 45' Second Half begins Paris Saint Germain 0, Lyon 0.
• 57' Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Mika Godts replaces João Neves.
• 65' Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Lucas Hernández replaces Warren Zaïre-Emery.
• 65' Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Senny Mayulu replaces Ferran Torres.
• 74' Ernest Nuamah (Lyon) is shown the yellow card.
• 76' Substitution, Lyon. Noah Nartey replaces Khalis Merah.
• 76' Substitution, Lyon. Ruben Kluivert replaces Corentin Tolisso.
• 81' Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Quentin Ndjantou replaces Maghnes Akliouche.
• 81' Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Beraldo replaces Désiré Doué.
• 81' Substitution, Lyon. Kaïl Boudache replaces Julien Duranville.
• 90'+1' Substitution, Lyon. Rémi Himbert replaces Tyler Morton.

Match Stats

Stat	Home	Away
Fouls	8	13
Yellow Cards	2	1
Red Cards	0	0
Offsides	2	1
Corner Kicks	7	4
Saves	5	7
Possession	68.6	31.4
SHOTS	17	8
ON GOAL	10	5
On Target %	0.6	0.6
Penalty Goals	0	0
Penalty Kicks Taken	0	0
Accurate Passes	691	287
Passes	739	334
Pass Completion %	0.9	0.9
Accurate Crosses	1	2
Crosses	16	7
Cross %	0.1	0.3
Long Balls	45	27
Accurate Long Balls	34	11
Long Balls %	0.8	0.4
Blocked Shots	2	2
Effective Tackles	10	12
Tackles	18	15
Tackle %	0.6	0.8
Interceptions	10	6
Effective Clearances	9	19
Clearances	9	19

overall

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Stade Rennais	8	5	1	2	+4	16
2	Lille	8	4	3	1	+5	15
3	AS Monaco	8	4	3	1	+4	15
4	Lyon	7	4	2	1	+8	14
5	Paris Saint-Germain	7	4	2	1	+5	14
6	Paris FC	8	4	2	2	+4	14
7	Lens	8	4	1	3	+4	13
8	Marseille	8	4	0	4	+5	12
9	Lorient	8	3	3	2	+1	12
10	Nice	8	3	2	3	-2	11
11	Toulouse	8	2	4	2	+1	10
12	AJ Auxerre	8	3	1	4	-6	10
13	Brest	8	2	3	3	+2	9
14	Angers	8	2	2	4	-6	8
15	Le Mans	8	1	4	3	-5	7
16	Strasbourg	8	2	1	5	-6	7
17	Troyes	8	1	2	5	-11	5
18	Le Havre AC	8	0	2	6	-7	2

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Live, interactive version available on new Reddit and the official Reddit apps. Auto-updated by Global Scoreboard.

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At 3:30, he says, “Everyone in the stadium saw that there was only one team who really tried to create and tried to win this game and so I have to praise my players.”

This is a schedule of this week's derbies and rivalry matches from Derbyist, where you can also find more upcoming derbies and historical results with video highlights.

Upcoming Derbies This Week 🔥

Monday October 26

• 🇹🇷 Galatasaray v. Fenerbahçe (The Intercontinental Derby (football)) - 18:30 GMT ### Wednesday October 28
• 🇬🇷 PAOK v. AEK Athens (Double-headed eagles derby) - 18:30 GMT ### Thursday October 29
• 🇧🇷 Atlético Mineiro v. Cruzeiro (Clássico Mineiro) - 22:30 GMT
• 🇧🇷 Vasco da Gama v. Flamengo (Clássico dos Milhões) - 23:00 GMT ### Friday October 30
• 🇫🇷 Lille v. Lens (Derby du Nord) - 20:05 GMT ### Saturday October 31
• 🇿🇦 Orlando Pirates v. Kaizer Chiefs (Soweto derby) - 13:30 GMT
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Rangers v. Aberdeen (Aberdeen F.C.–Rangers F.C. rivalry) - 15:00 GMT
• 🇧🇬 Levski Sofia v. CSKA Sofia (Eternal derby of Bulgarian football) - 16:00 GMT
• 🇩🇪 Bayern Munich v. Borussia Dortmund (Der Klassiker) - 17:30 GMT
• 🇮🇹 AC Milan v. Inter Milan (Derby della Madonnina) - 19:45 GMT ### Sunday November 1
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Heart of Midlothian v. Hibernian (Edinburgh derby) - 15:00 GMT
• 🇦🇹 Austria Vienna v. Rapid Vienna (Wiener Derby) - 16:00 GMT
• 🇦🇷 Boca Juniors v. River Plate (Superclásico) - 18:00 GMT
• 🇮🇹 Juventus v. Napoli (Juventus F.C.–S.S.C. Napoli rivalry) - 19:45 GMT
• 🇪🇸 Athletic Bilbao v. Real Sociedad (Basque derby) - 20:00 GMT

Last Week's Derby Results & Highlights 🔥

Saturday October 24

• 🇮🇹 Napoli 3–3 Roma (Derby del Sole) Highlights
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chelsea 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur (Chelsea F.C.–Tottenham Hotspur F.C. rivalry) Highlights
• 🇪🇸 Valencia 1–2 Villarreal (Derbi de la Comunitat) Highlights
• 🇧🇦 FK Sarajevo 2–0 Željezničar Sarajevo (Sarajevo derby) ### Sunday October 25
• 🇪🇸 Barcelona 1–2 Real Madrid (El Clásico) Highlights
• 🇨🇴 Atlético Nacional 2–1 Independiente Medellín (El Clásico Paisa) Highlights

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Also, check out our sister site, Highlighter — featuring video highlights from every match across all the top European competitions.

---

NOTA BENE: If we're missing a derby or notable rivalry, first please read the FAQs and then let us know so we can add it to the database. Thank you.

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We've reviewed Matchweek 7 in the WSL. Now it's time to head downstairs to WSL2, where the goals are flying in, the promotion race is heating up, and apparently nobody has told the defenders they're supposed to stop the opposition scoring.

Welcome back to another women's football round-up, where the entertainment is guaranteed, the league table is getting increasingly interesting, and the highlights editors might need to start claiming overtime.

If you thought the WSL had delivered enough drama this weekend, WSL2 took one look at the top flight and said, "Hold my tactical clipboard."

Because Matchweek 6, played on Sunday 25 October 2026, was an absolute goal-fest.

25 goals. Six matches. One seven-goal thriller. Two six-goal contests. And more twists than a packet of fusilli.

Newcastle United finally dropped points, but refused to lose. Ipswich Town went up through the gears against Sunderland. Bristol City continued their promotion push, Sheffield United survived a Lancashire rollercoaster, Leicester left it late against Southampton, and Watford finally registered their first-ever WSL2 victory.

Meanwhile, Durham's search for a point continues, Burnley are still waiting for their first win, and nobody at the top of the table seems particularly interested in giving anybody else an easy afternoon.

Honestly, if the league keeps this up, we'll need a second highlights programme just to show all the goals.

So, get comfortable, put the kettle on, and make sure your seatbelt is fastened.

We're heading into the wonderful, unpredictable world of WSL2.

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Watford 4–2 Durham: Hornets Finally Find Their Sting, While Durham's Troubles Are Becoming Wild!

Scorers: Phoebie Poole, Vera Jones, Aoibheann Clancy, Maddison Perry (Watford); Beth Hepple (2) (Durham)

We begin at Vicarage Road.

Two teams.

One objective.

Three points desperately needed.

Watford and Durham entered Matchweek 6 still searching for their first league victory, but for the Hornets, there was something even bigger at stake.

They had never won a match at this level.

Not once.

Not ever.

And if you wanted an opponent to finally break that duck against, a Durham side that had lost all five of their previous matches was probably quite high on the shopping list.

Although, given how unpredictable WSL2 can be, nobody was counting their chickens before the Hornets had even started buzzing.

Watford began like a team absolutely determined to change their fortunes.

Phoebie Poole forced an early save, Maddison Perry struck the crossbar, and the home side were knocking on the door so frequently that Durham might have considered installing a doorbell camera.

The breakthrough arrived after 17 minutes.

Poole found the net for her third goal in four matches.

And just like that, Watford were on their way.

The Hornets continued applying pressure, and after the interval, the floodgates opened.

Vera Jones doubled the advantage, Aoibheann Clancy got in on the act, and Perry added a fourth.

Four goals.

Four different Watford scorers.

And the home supporters were finally able to celebrate a historic victory.

It's been a long wait, but Watford have finally got their first WSL2 win over the line.

The Hornets hadn't just found their sting. They'd apparently discovered the entire wasp nest.

To their credit, Durham refused to disappear completely.

Beth Hepple struck twice late on, reducing the deficit to 4–2 and giving the visitors something to take away from an otherwise difficult afternoon.

But by then, the damage had already been done.

Watford manager Renee Hector had predicted that eventually everything would click for her side.

Well, it certainly clicked here.

Not just clicked, either. Someone appears to have pressed the big red button marked "GOALS."

The bigger picture: Watford's first victory at this level is a significant milestone and could provide the confidence needed to turn their season around.

For Durham, however, the situation is increasingly worrying.

Six matches played.

Six defeats.

Zero points.

The Wildcats are still looking for their first league point, and unfortunately, there isn't a customer service desk where they can request one.

They'll have to earn it on the pitch.

Verdict: Watford finally got their sting back, while Durham were left nursing another painful defeat. The Hornets have their first WSL2 victory, and the Wildcats could really do with finding a way out of the wilderness.

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Bristol City 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Robins Flying High, Wolves Left Howling at Ashton Gate!

Scorers: Katie Robinson, Brooke Aspin, Rio Hardy, Marine Dafeur (Bristol City); Amber Hughes (2) (Wolves)

Next stop, Ashton Gate.

Bristol City against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Robins versus the Wolves.

And judging by the opening few minutes, the Wolves had arrived hungry.

Just six minutes into the match, Amber Hughes continued her excellent scoring form by converting from close range after Jasmine Matthews headed the ball across goal.

Wolves led 1–0.

Not exactly the start Bristol City supporters had ordered.

But the Robins weren't about to spend their afternoon sitting on a branch feeling sorry for themselves.

Katie Robinson restored parity shortly after the 20-minute mark with a tremendous finish into the top corner.

And from that moment, Bristol City decided to take complete control.

Brooke Aspin headed the hosts in front before Rio Hardy added another goal to make it 3–1 before half-time.

From trailing to leading by two goals.

That's quite a turnaround.

Wolves had arrived looking for dinner, only to discover that the Robins were running the restaurant.

And apparently, today's special was goals.

After the interval, Marine Dafeur added Bristol City's fourth just before the hour mark.

Four-one.

Game practically done.

But Amber Hughes clearly hadn't finished making her contribution.

The Wolves forward produced a superb curling effort into the top corner for her second goal of the afternoon.

A brilliant finish.

Unfortunately, it was a little like installing a beautiful new front door after discovering that the rest of your house has disappeared.

Lovely goal, but the result was already slipping away.

Bristol City secured a 4–2 victory and extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

After losing their opening two league fixtures, the Robins have certainly spread their wings.

The bigger picture: Bristol City move up to fourth, six points behind Newcastle.

Their recovery from a difficult start has been impressive, and they're beginning to look like a side capable of challenging for promotion.

Wolves, meanwhile, can take encouragement from Amber Hughes' finishing, but conceding four goals makes winning considerably more difficult.

It's a fairly fundamental part of the sport.

Score two, concede four, and the mathematics tend to become rather inconvenient.

Verdict: The Robins were flying, Hughes was howling, and Bristol City turned a potentially awkward afternoon into three valuable points. Wolves may have teeth in attack, but they could do with a stronger defensive muzzle.

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Burnley 3–4 Sheffield United: Seven Goals, One Comeback and a Lancashire Rollercoaster Without Seatbelts!

Scorers: Emma Siddall, Leah Galton, Hennessey (own goal) (Burnley); Mollie Rouse, Halle Houssien, Ava Baker, Abbie Jones (Sheffield United)

Right.

Where do we even begin with this one?

Burnley against Sheffield United.

Two clubs looking for important points.

One match.

Seven goals.

And enough defensive chaos to have every manager reaching for the emergency tactical whiteboard.

This was the first-ever meeting between these two sides.

And what a way to introduce yourselves.

Sheffield United captain Mollie Rouse opened the scoring from a corner.

One-nil to the Blades.

A perfect start for the visitors.

But Burnley, who had scored just once in their previous five league matches, suddenly discovered that putting the ball into the opposition's net was actually quite enjoyable.

First, Emma Siddall equalised.

Then Leah Galton completed the turnaround.

Two-one Burnley.

Yes, really.

A side that had managed just one goal all season suddenly scored twice in the same half.

The Clarets had gone from struggling to find the net to apparently deciding that goals were available in a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

At half-time, Burnley were ahead and heading towards their first victory of the campaign.

The home supporters could almost taste those three points.

Unfortunately, Sheffield United had other ideas.

And the Blades were about to get very, very sharp.

Just two minutes into the second half, Halle Houssien equalised.

Two-two.

Burnley's lead had lasted about as long as an ice cream in a heatwave.

Then Ava Baker put Sheffield United ahead.

Three-two.

And Abbie Jones added a fourth for the visitors.

Four-two.

From being behind at half-time to leading by two goals.

Sheffield United had completely turned the match on its head.

Burnley's defence, meanwhile, appeared to have briefly mistaken the second half for an open training session.

There was still time for more drama.

A late own goal by Hennessey reduced Sheffield United's lead to 4–3.

And suddenly, what should have been a reasonably comfortable finish became another frantic few minutes.

Burnley were knocking on the door again.

Sheffield United were presumably looking for the keys to lock it.

But the Blades held on.

Seven goals, three lead changes and a thoroughly entertaining afternoon.

Well, entertaining for the neutrals.

The two managers might have slightly different opinions.

The bigger picture: Sheffield United secure their second victory of the campaign and demonstrate that they possess the attacking firepower to recover from setbacks.

Burnley, however, remain winless and inside the bottom two.

There are positives to take from scoring three goals after previously managing only one all season, but defensive improvements are urgently required.

Because conceding four goals every time you score three is not generally considered a sustainable promotion strategy.

Or even a particularly good survival strategy.

Verdict: Sheffield United brought the cutting edge, Burnley brought the drama, and everyone else got seven goals for the price of one ticket. The Clarets finally found their shooting boots, but unfortunately left their defensive ones in the dressing room.

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Ipswich Town 3–1 Sunderland: Tractor Girls Plough Through the Black Cats and Shift Into Second Gear!

Scorers: Georgia Timms, Princess Ademiluyi (2) (Ipswich); Elise Hughes (Sunderland)

Now then.

This was a big one.

Ipswich Town against Sunderland.

Two unbeaten teams.

Two promotion hopefuls.

One opportunity to make a major statement.

The Tractor Girls arrived having won three consecutive league matches, while Sunderland had also started the season strongly.

Something had to give.

And for Ipswich, things initially looked rather concerning.

Just three minutes into the contest, Elise Hughes scored her fifth league goal of the campaign to give Sunderland the lead.

One-nil.

The Black Cats had struck early.

Ipswich were barely out of the starting blocks.

The Tractor Girls hadn't even finished checking the engine oil.

But fear not.

The machinery was about to warm up.

Georgia Timms equalised shortly after the ten-minute mark, racing onto a pass from Jenna Dear and finishing smartly.

One-one.

And suddenly, the contest was properly underway.

Then came the defining moment.

Just before half-time, Sunderland's Tess Lapalacette was sent off after bringing down Timms.

The Black Cats were reduced to ten players.

And with the entire second half still to come, Ipswich had an enormous opportunity.

Sunderland were now a player short, and the Tractor Girls were preparing to put their foot down.

Ten minutes after the restart, Princess Ademiluyi scored to put Ipswich ahead.

Two-one.

The Tractor Girls had finally shifted into a higher gear.

And Ademiluyi wasn't finished.

She struck again to complete her brace and seal a 3–1 victory.

At this point, Sunderland's unbeaten record had been ploughed into the Suffolk soil.

The Black Cats came hunting for three points.

Instead, the Tractor Girls sent them home with an agricultural lesson.

You can take the points off the tractor, but you cannot stop the tractor.

Well, unless it runs out of diesel.

And Ipswich certainly had plenty in the tank here.

The bigger picture: Ipswich remain unbeaten after six league matches and move into second place, just two points behind Newcastle.

Four consecutive league victories represent outstanding momentum, and Ademiluyi's goals could prove crucial in the promotion race.

Sunderland have now suffered their first defeat of the season.

The red card undoubtedly changed the contest, but the Black Cats will need to respond quickly if they want to remain among the leading challengers.

Verdict: Ipswich are cultivating a very promising promotion campaign. Sunderland got caught in the headlights, Ademiluyi provided the horsepower, and the Tractor Girls are now firmly in the fast lane.

Just don't tell the tractors there's a speed limit.

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Nottingham Forest 2–2 Newcastle United: Forest Nearly Chop Down the Leaders, but the Magpies Refuse to Fly Away Empty-Handed!

Scorers: Leticia McKenna (2) (Forest); Kathleen McGovern, Martha Thomas (Newcastle)

And now for the headline act.

The big one.

The fixture everyone had circled on their calendars.

Nottingham Forest against Newcastle United.

Both teams unbeaten.

Newcastle with a perfect five wins from five.

Forest determined to prove they could compete with the league leaders.

And for 45 minutes, it looked like one of the biggest surprises of the WSL2 season was on the cards.

Leticia McKenna opened the scoring inside ten minutes when her cross somehow found its way inside the near post.

One-nil Forest.

Not exactly what Newcastle had planned.

And things were about to get worse.

After Tuva Espas was fouled by Gemma Evans, McKenna stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.

Two-nil.

Newcastle's perfect record was suddenly looking distinctly imperfect.

The Magpies were two goals down, Forest were flying, and the City Ground was beginning to believe.

You could almost hear the trees rustling with excitement.

Forest had laid the foundations for a famous victory.

Unfortunately, they'd forgotten that Newcastle aren't particularly fond of leaving without points.

The visitors made adjustments during the interval.

And whatever was said in the dressing room, it certainly worked.

Just five minutes into the second half, Kathleen McGovern reduced the deficit.

Two-one.

Game on.

Newcastle were back in business.

Forest now had a decision to make.

Push for a third goal?

Protect the lead?

Or simply hope the clock would start moving a little faster?

For much of the second half, the home side appeared to be holding on.

But Newcastle had one more trick up their sleeves.

And naturally, it involved Martha Thomas.

Because when you need a goal, who else are you going to call?

With just six minutes remaining, Thomas scored her sixth league goal of the campaign to level the match.

Two-two.

And just like that, Newcastle had rescued a point.

Five wins from five became five wins and a draw from six.

The perfect record was gone.

But the unbeaten record remained.

Forest had come within touching distance of becoming the first team to defeat Newcastle this season, only for the Magpies to swoop in and spoil the party.

The hosts had tried to chop down the league leaders.

Unfortunately, these particular Magpies had clearly decided that nesting in the top spot was far too comfortable to abandon.

The bigger picture: Newcastle remain top of WSL2, but Ipswich are now just two points behind.

The leaders deserve credit for their comeback, although conceding twice in the opening half against another promotion contender will give them plenty to think about.

Forest remain unbeaten and have demonstrated that they can seriously trouble the strongest sides in the division.

However, surrendering a two-goal advantage will feel like an opportunity missed.

Verdict: Forest nearly felled the league leaders, but Newcastle spread their wings in the second half. McKenna planted the seeds of an upset, only for Thomas to arrive with the equaliser and trim Forest's celebrations.

The Magpies have dropped points.

They haven't dropped their standards of resilience.

And they certainly haven't dropped off the top of the table.

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Leicester City 2–2 Southampton: Foxes Leave It Late as Saints Discover That 88 Minutes Isn't Quite 90!

Scorers: Araya Dennise, Alisha Lehmann (Leicester); Freya Jupp (2) (Southampton)

And finally, we arrive at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City against Southampton.

The Foxes versus the Saints.

One side looking to rediscover the winning formula.

The other hoping that a trip to the East Midlands might provide some much-needed divine intervention.

This was the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides.

And it didn't take long for the drama to begin.

Just three minutes into the match, Araya Dennise headed Leicester into the lead.

One-nil.

A dream start for the Foxes.

Southampton had barely settled into their seats.

But the Saints weren't about to roll over.

Freya Jupp took control of proceedings, scoring twice to turn the match around.

From 1–0 down to 2–1 ahead.

The Saints had found their salvation.

And for much of the second half, it looked like they were going to take all three points back to the south coast.

Leicester searched for an equaliser.

Southampton defended their advantage.

The clock ticked on.

And the travelling supporters began contemplating a very enjoyable journey home.

But somebody apparently forgot to explain to Alisha Lehmann that Southampton were supposed to win.

With just two minutes of normal time remaining, the substitute raced onto a through ball and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Two-two.

Cue Leicester celebrations.

Cue Southampton disbelief.

And cue the inevitable footballing reminder that matches do, in fact, last longer than 88 minutes.

The Foxes had snatched a point.

The Saints had been denied a victory at the death.

For Leicester, it was a case of better late than never.

For Southampton, it was more like better luck next time.

You might say the Saints were praying for the final whistle, but the Foxes had clearly decided to fox them at the last moment.

Both clubs ultimately had to settle for a draw.

The bigger picture: Leicester and Southampton continue their respective waits for a first victory since the opening two rounds.

Leicester deserve credit for their late persistence, while Southampton will be frustrated that Jupp's double wasn't enough to secure all three points.

Both teams have shown attacking promise, but turning encouraging performances into victories remains the challenge.

Verdict: Southampton were heading for heaven, but Lehmann brought them back down to earth. The Saints were nearly marching home with three points, only for the Foxes to stage a last-minute raid.

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What Have We Learned From Matchweek 6?

1. Newcastle are still top, but the promotion race is very much alive.

Five consecutive wins had made Newcastle look almost unstoppable.

But Nottingham Forest proved the leaders can be troubled.

The Magpies showed resilience to recover from 2–0 down, yet Ipswich are now only two points behind.

The promotion race is heating up.

And unlike the British weather, it doesn't look like cooling down anytime soon.

2. Ipswich are not here to make up the numbers.

Four consecutive league victories.

Six matches unbeaten.

Second place in the table.

The Tractor Girls are gathering serious momentum.

If they continue like this, somebody might need to build an extra lane on the promotion motorway.

3. Bristol City are back in business.

After losing their opening two matches, Bristol City have responded with an unbeaten run of four games.

Fourth place is an encouraging position, and their attacking display against Wolves demonstrated why they remain contenders.

The Robins have gone from an awkward take-off to cruising altitude.

4. Nottingham Forest deserve to be taken seriously.

Forest may feel disappointed after surrendering a two-goal lead, but they remain unbeaten.

They've now shown they can compete with Newcastle, even if they couldn't quite finish the job.

It's a promising start, although too many draws could eventually prove costly.

The trees are growing.

They just need to turn a few more branches into three-point returns.

5. Sheffield United certainly know how to entertain.

Seven goals against Burnley.

Four of them for the Blades.

And a comeback from 2–1 down.

Their attacking players deserve credit, but keeping things tighter at the back would certainly help.

A seven-goal thriller is fantastic for the highlights programme.

Less fantastic for a manager trying to maintain a normal heart rate.

6. Watford have finally made history.

First-ever WSL2 win.

Four goals.

Three points.

And plenty of reasons to celebrate.

The Hornets have finally got their first victory, and now the challenge is making sure it isn't a one-off.

One sting is good.

A sustained swarm would be even better.

7. Durham and Burnley need results urgently.

Durham have lost all six matches.

Burnley are also still winless.

Both clubs have shown that they can score goals, but conceding too many remains an issue.

There are no consolation points for entertaining defeats.

Unfortunately, the league table doesn't have a column marked "At least we made it interesting."

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Matchweek 6 Awards: The Completely Unofficial WSL2 Ceremony!

Welcome to the awards ceremony where the trophies are imaginary, the judging panel consists of one overly enthusiastic football fan, and there is absolutely no chance of VAR getting involved.

Player of the Week: Princess Ademiluyi (Ipswich Town)

Two second-half goals to defeat Sunderland and move Ipswich into second place.

A match-winning display with enormous significance in the promotion race.

The Princess certainly delivered a royal performance.

No coronation required.

Just a couple of goals and three extremely valuable points.

Goal of the Week: Amber Hughes (Wolves)

Her wonderful curling finish against Bristol City was a genuine beauty.

It may have been in a losing cause, but sometimes a goal is so good that it deserves its own moment in the spotlight.

The Wolves forward certainly knows how to find the top corner.

The opposition goalkeeper might prefer she didn't.

Comeback of the Week: Newcastle United

Two-nil down against an unbeaten promotion rival.

Back to 2–2.

Unbeaten record preserved.

Martha Thomas once again arriving when her team needed her most.

The Magpies certainly know how to turn a difficult situation into a valuable point.

Match of the Week: Burnley 3–4 Sheffield United

Seven goals.

Multiple lead changes.

A late own goal.

And a finish that probably had supporters checking whether their watches were working properly.

It was less a football match and more a theme park ride with goalposts.

Most Historic Moment: Watford

Their first-ever victory at this level.

Four goals against Durham.

And a thoroughly deserved celebration.

The Hornets finally got their sting back.

Most Frustrated Supporters: Nottingham Forest

Two goals up against Newcastle.

Six minutes away from victory.

Then Martha Thomas happened.

Football can be a cruel sport.

Especially when you're trying to hold on against a team that appears allergic to defeat.

Most Painful Collapse: Burnley

Leading 2–1 at half-time.

Losing 4–3.

The Clarets went from dreaming of three points to wondering where everything had gone wrong.

If football matches were only 45 minutes long, Burnley would have had a considerably better afternoon.

Unfortunately, somebody insisted on playing the second half.

The "Are You Sure There's Enough Time?" Award: Alisha Lehmann (Leicester)

An equaliser in the 88th minute against Southampton.

The Foxes needed a rescue mission.

Lehmann duly arrived.

Better late than never, although Southampton supporters might respectfully disagree.

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The Promotion Race: Newcastle Have Company!

After six matches, the leading contenders are beginning to emerge.

Newcastle United remain the team everyone is chasing. Their perfect winning record has ended, but they have retained first place and remain unbeaten.

Ipswich Town are just two points behind after their impressive victory over Sunderland. The Tractor Girls are gathering momentum and have every reason to believe they can challenge for the top spot.

Nottingham Forest are also unbeaten, although their tally of draws means they must turn more competitive performances into wins.

Bristol City have recovered from their difficult opening two matches to climb into fourth and are now just six points behind the leaders.

Sunderland suffered their first defeat but shouldn't be written off on the back of one disappointing afternoon.

There are still plenty of matches to come.

Nobody has won promotion in October.

And nobody should start ordering the celebratory bunting just yet.

Although, judging by Ipswich's form, somebody might already be checking the price of a tractor-shaped trophy.

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The Other End of the Table: Survival Isn't Going to Be a Sunday Stroll

While the promotion hopefuls are looking upwards, life is proving considerably less comfortable further down the division.

Durham remain bottom with no points from six matches.

Six games, six defeats.

That's the sort of statistic nobody wants printed on a motivational poster.

Burnley are also waiting for their first victory, despite an encouraging attacking performance against Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Watford have finally broken their duck.

And that's an important development.

A first win doesn't solve every problem, but it can completely change the mood around a football club.

Suddenly, there's something to build upon.

Something to believe in.

And, perhaps most importantly, something positive to discuss on the journey home.

The clubs struggling near the bottom need to start picking up points sooner rather than later.

Because while October is still early in the campaign, the league table has an unpleasant habit of becoming less forgiving as the season progresses.

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Final Thoughts: WSL2 Has Absolutely No Interest in Being Boring!

Twenty-five goals.

Six matches.

A seven-goal thriller.

Two six-goal contests.

A late Leicester equaliser.

A Newcastle comeback.

A first-ever Watford victory.

And a significant Ipswich result in the promotion race.

Honestly, what more could you ask for?

A few clean sheets, perhaps.

But judging by this weekend, those are currently out of stock.

Newcastle remain top, but their rivals have been given encouragement.

Ipswich are charging up the table, Bristol City are finding their rhythm, and Nottingham Forest continue to demonstrate that they're a force to be reckoned with.

Sheffield United and Burnley delivered the sort of match that highlights editors dream about and defensive coaches have nightmares about.

Watford finally got their historic victory, while Durham's difficult start continued.

And Leicester showed Southampton that you should never start celebrating three points while there's still football left to play.

If the WSL is delivering top-flight drama, WSL2 has apparently decided to provide the extended director's cut.

More goals.

More comebacks.

More chaos.

And absolutely no guarantee that a two-goal lead will remain a two-goal lead for very long.

The promotion race is gathering pace, the bottom of the table is becoming increasingly tense, and Matchweek 6 has given us plenty to discuss.

One thing is certain.

WSL2 is not the supporting act. It's putting on a proper show of its own.

And if you're still not watching this division, you're missing an absolute treat.

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Over to You, r/soccer!

• Are Newcastle still the clear favourites for promotion, or have Ipswich and Forest shown that the Magpies can be caught?
• Can Ipswich maintain their impressive winning run and make a serious challenge for top spot?
• Are Bristol City becoming one of the division's biggest threats after recovering from their difficult start?
• Which was your favourite Matchweek 6 goal: Amber Hughes' curler, or another contender?
• Was Burnley 3–4 Sheffield United the most entertaining match of the weekend?
• Can Watford build on their historic first victory?
• How concerned should Durham supporters be after six consecutive defeats?
• And which team do you think has the best chance of putting together a sustained promotion challenge?

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Six matchweeks down, a mountain of football still to play, and WSL2 has already provided enough drama to fill an entire highlights season.

The Tractor Girls are ploughing ahead.

The Magpies are still flying.

The Robins are soaring.

The Hornets have discovered their sting.

The Blades are sharpening up.

The Foxes are showing their cunning.

And the rest of the division?

Well, they might want to check that their defences are properly insured.

Because at this rate, the next WSL2 matchweek could come with a public warning: goals may occur at any moment.

Thought I'd put this here for balance, since people love to post the Ashley Young quotes as a reason for him to not be the Man Utd Manager (even though he as talking about video reviews after losses and also said in the same interview that Conte is good and wins everywhere he goes).

🎙️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scott McTominay on Antonio Conte:

"He’s obviously a great coach. Everyone knows his qualities and style. With me, he’s been incredible. He’s shown us football in a different way, especially the mental side, which is crucial. You don’t realize the benefits until you push your body and mind to the limit and understand what you’re capable of."

"I already knew from a young age that I liked pushing myself, but this is another level. It’s total dedication to football, work and life. That’s why he gets results. Spending time with him, like when we went to Milan, I also saw he’s a good person. We had a nice conversation. Off the pitch he has a human side too, which is positive. But on the pitch he’s serious, like most coaches. And our results reflect how he wants us to approach games."