English Rivalry Week! -- Recommended Matches 3/27/26

I have not been feeling great this week, so I'm gonna try to bang out another dense set of recommendations as directly as I can. (Watch it be 2500 words again.)

RECOMMENDED MATCHES

1. Manchester United v Manchester City (Sun 5am PST,  ESPN+/Youtube) - The biggest match of the WSL season. Manchester United need to win to peg City back in order for there to be a title race with them, Chelsea, and especially Arsenal all hovering. But United is also in a race for the Champions League and need a win for that. A City win and you can start planning the parade.

2. Angel City v Houston (Fri 7pm PST, Prime) - I'm as confused as you, but this is a top-of-the-table clash in the NWSL for two teams that both missed the playoffs last year. I think Angel City is for real, I think Houston can compete for a playoff spot, but let's see how this plays out! ACFC's Sveindis Jonsdottir has looked like the best player in the world in the first two matches, if she can keep that up, watch out world. 

3. Real Madrid v Barcelona (Sun noon PST, DAZN) - The ironic thing about Barcelona absolutely thrashing Madrid 6-2 in the Champions League QF first leg is that now Madrid can focus all their attention on beating Barca in the league, because what else do they have to play for? Colombian sensation Linda Caicedo feels like the only player who can even compete on the same pitch as Barca, can she REALLY do it all?

4. Orlando v Gotham (Sun 4pm PST, Victory+) - The last three NWSL champions! Barbra Banda, back from injury, has been an absolute monster for Orlando so far this season, with three goals in three matches and an incredible Expected Goals. Gotham has looked poor and lacking creativity this season without the injured Jaedyn Shaw. New signing Guro Reiten was one of the best in the world at creating goals for Chelsea, if she's available for the match.

5. Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (Sun 10:30am PST,  ESPN+/Youtube) - The North London Derby is one of the biggest matches in English football on the men's side, and Spurs women's advance to respectability is getting it there on the women's side. Arsenal need to keep winning to have a chance at the title, Spurs and their fans would love to spoil that party.

THE SICKO ZONE

We've got several other matches of interest if you're fully committed.

6. Portland v Kansas City (Sat 1pm PST, CBS/Paramount+) - Both massive NWSL clubs have had a wildly up-and-down start to the season. 

7. Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain (Sun 1pm PST, DAZN) - Surprise package Nantes are still holding onto second place and a playoff/Champions League spot; a PSG win would have them very nearly back to their usual runners-up spot after their points deduction.

8. Hoffenheim v Freiburg (Sun 9am PST, DAZN) - Both German clubs need a win to have a chance at chasing down Frankfurt for the third Champions League spot. 

9. Fleury v Paris FC (Sat 10am PST, Youtube) - Fleury's rough schedule has knocked them off the pace and it continues here with a match against Paris FC, who are also in the mix for second place in France.

MIDWEEK MATCHES

The second leg of the Champions League has three ties still in the balance and also Barcelona-Real Madrid for some reason. 

1. Wolfsburg (1) v Lyon (0) (Thu noon PST, Paramount+) - The She-Wolves played one of their best matches of the season, although they were still maybe a little lucky to come away with the win. Now can they hold onto the advantage in France? 

2. Arsenal (3) v Chelsea (1) (Wed noon PST, Paramount+) - The first leg could have gone any number of different directions, with Arsenal scoring on some terrific/lucky finishes, Chelsea also getting an all-time great goal but also hitting the post multiple times and having a goal called back for virtually nothing. This one isn't over at all. Both sides will also be receiving Australian reinforcements streaming in from the Asian Cup, with Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley rejoining Arsenal and Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter stepping into Chelsea.

3. Bayern Munich (3) v Manchester United (2) (Wed 9:45am PST, Paramount+) - A very strange first leg that alternated between slow possession and sudden goals depending on the way the wind blew. So while United are at a deficit heading to Germany I think there's still a reasonable chance they can find a goal – although a thin squad playing three massive games in a single week could do them in.

4. Barcelona (6) v Real Madrid (2) (Thu 9:45am PST, Paramount+) - I guess watch this if you're collecting the whole set of Champions League matches. 

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Japan won the Asian Cup with a narrow 1-0 over Australia in a surprisingly structured match, where the Matildas had the better of possession and momentum throughout the match, but an early wonder goal from Maika Hamano was good enough to keep the win for a Japan side that proved they could succeed with defense and not just possession and goals. Watch out for them at the World Cup. 

Major results from Europe included Chelsea drawing London City getting them in trouble chasing a Champions League slot; Frankfurt taking control of the Champions League race in Germany, Lyon likely knocking Fleury out of that race in France, and Roma re-establishing their six-point lead in Italy. 

In the Americas, the NWSL table has started to settle in, although with some major surprises as the big four of Kansas City, Orlando, Washington, and Gotham have somehow combined for three total wins in 12 matches. Finally, Club America beat Tigres to get some measure of revenge for last season's final defeat. 

IN OTHER NEWS

Chelsea isn't just struggling on the pitch, they're struggling off it, as a star exodus begins. Cat Macario has officially signed with San Diego, while Sam Kerr and Millie Bright are expected to leave at the end of their contracts. Those two, combined with Guro Reiten who just left for Gotham, were the spine of the Chelsea squad that's won every WSL title of the 2020s so far. 

The NXGN list of best teenagers in the women's game came out. Keep an eye on these names as many of them are the sort you'll be watching for the next 15 years. I analyzed it a bit here. 

Finally, the World Sevens tournament, a very enjoyable bit of women's football of the past year, has committed to a slightly smaller, WSL-only version for the end of this season. 

GOALS OF THE WEEK

So many goals this week but honestly the Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, and Alessia Russo goals from the Arsenal-Chelsea match midweek were all incredible, particularly the James, which was a goal unlike any I've seen before. The casual swing!