Potsdam and Lyon end year on top
Monday, December 20, 2010
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The German winter break has begun with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam top while fellow UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists Olympique Lyonnais have not dropped a point.
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UEFA Women's Champions League holders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam go into the German winter break on top with fellow contenders Olympique Lyonnais yet to drop a point in their title defence.
The weather took its toll on recent Frauen-Bundesliga fixtures, with only three played in December. One was reigning champions Potsdam's 4-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg which took them a point clear of three-time UEFA Women's Cup winners 1. FFC Frankfurt, who have a game in hand having secured 14 competitive victories in a row.
Frankfurt, four points ahead of Potsdam's fellow UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists FCR 2001 Duisburg, have had two disappointing domestic seasons but this term have struck 69 goals in 15 games. That includes 20 from Birgit Prinz, one more than fellow Germany forward Inka Grings; Frankfurt winger Kerstin Garefrekes has 18.
In March's quarter-finals Potsdam are up against FCF Juvisy-Essonne, who are six points behind French leaders Olympique Lyonnais. Lyon have secured ten wins from as many games, and have a match in hand on Juvisy. In fact, Juvisy's consolation in their 3-1 loss at home to Lyon was the only league goal the leaders have conceded all season.
All four other contenders are in their close seasons. Lyon's opponents Zvezda-2005 need to win to qualify for 2011/12 having ended third in Russia. It was a similar story for Sweden's Linköpings FC, who were boosted last week by Kosovare Asllani signing a new two-year contract to add to the arrival of young forward Lisa Klinga. Denmark midfielder Marianne Gajhede Knudsen has also joined though she is cup-tied having already appeared for Fortuna Hjørring. They replace both Maria Karlssons, Jessy Sharro and Josefine Öqvist, who have left.
Linköping continue their European campaign against English champions Arsenal LFC, who like Duisburg's opponents Everton are awaiting the launch of the new eight-team FA WSL in April, featuring professional players and live nationally-televised matches in a new summer season. In March the pair will enter the FA Women's Cup, which will determine England's 2011/12 UEFA Women's Champions League entrants.
