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Aston Villa team: D’Angelo, Maritz, Patten, Parker, Tomas, Nobbs, Staniforth, Grant, Kearns, Dali, Daly. Subs: Poor, Mayling, Corsie, Turner, Pacheco, Leon, Robinson, Hanson, Salmon.
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So this is Chelsea without Emma Hayes. And Emma being Emma she’s already made waves with an Olympic gold. So no pressure, Sonia Bompastor, once of Lyon, takes charge at Kingsmeadow – no roll-out at Stamford Bridge – after a promising summer tour. The expectation, this being Chelsea, is that they win the WSL. Such are the standards. It won’t be the same without Fran Kirby and Jess Carter, among others but Lucy Bronze is among the summer arrivals.
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As for Villa, Robert de Pauw has taken over after Carla Ward’s surprise exit, and there’s been plenty of change. Rachel Daly remains, and without her England duties to consider, and Chelsea know she is still one of the best stikers in the game.
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Kick-off is at 7pm. Join me.
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Main Events
And here is a profile of Sonia Bompastor when she first took office.
Then there's a season preview for each team.
Before you beginthere's still time to read Suzanne Lack's preview of the season.
The team is here
Chelsea: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Buchanan, Lawrence, Cuthbert, Nusken, Reiten, Baltimore, Kanelido, Ramirez. Subs: Musovic, Macario, James, Bjorn, Perisette, Kaptein, Mpomé, Beaver-Jones.
Aston Villa team: D'Angelo, Maritz, Patten, Parker, Thomas, Nobbs, Staniforth, Grant, Kearns, Dalli, Daly. Subs: Poore, Meiring, Corsey, Turner, Pacheco, Leon, Robinson, Hanson, Salmon.
preamble
This is Chelsea without Emma HayesEmma being Emma, she's already in the Olympic gold-medal buzz, so there's no pressure. Ex-Lyon's Sonia Bompastor takes over at Kingsmeadow after a promising summer tour, and there's no hope of a run at Stamford Bridge. It's Chelsea, so they're expected to win the WSL. That's the benchmark. It won't be the same without players like Fran Kirby and Jess Carter, but Lucy Bronze is one of the summer's new signings.
As for Villa, there have been many changes with Robert de Pauw taking over as manager after the sudden departure of Carla Ward, Rachel Daly has stayed and is no longer a consideration for England duty, and Chelsea know she is still one of the biggest stars in world football.
Kickoff is at 7pm. Please come along and join us.
