WSL break begins: Everything Tottenham fans need to know as European race heats up
The race for Champions League football is heating up in the Women’s Super League.
With the league put on pause for a month, Spurs bounced back from their recent defeat to Chelsea in sensational fashion, as Martin Ho’s side beat Aston Villa 7-3 at Villa Park.
After a packed period following the return from the winter break, the WSL is set to return on 15 March, while European and FA Cup fixtures take place in the meantime.
Tottenham sit fifth in the standings going into the break, four points away from a Champions League spot.
With this in mind, Tottenham Hotspur News takes a look at everything fans should know ahead of the break, with the race for continental football heating up.
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Why is there a month-long WSL break?
Spurs’ push in the WSL has been put on pause following their excellent matchweek 16 result, with fixtures not set to resume until Sunday 15 March.
The break is largely driven by fixture congestion across multiple competitions. Since the return from the winter break in January, clubs have navigated four WSL rounds alongside FA Cup ties, League Cup semi-finals and the return of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
While Spurs themselves are not juggling European commitments, they are preparing for a big FA Cup fifth-round clash with London City, while Arsenal and Manchester United have Champions League matches against Leuven and Atletico Madrid coming up.
Early March is then reserved for World Cup qualifiers, the Asian Cup and other international fixtures, with several Spurs players set to join up with their national sides before club action resumes.
Tottenham throw themselves back into European contention with Aston Villa win
Spurs reignited their push for a top-three finish in emphatic fashion on Sunday, as they dismantled Aston Villa 7-3 at Villa Park.
Starting on the front foot, Ho’s side were rewarded inside 10 minutes as Signe Gaupset netted her first goal for the club. And despite the quick response from the hosts, with Kirsty Hanson equalising for Villa, Tottenham regained control as quickly as they lost it.
Skipper Bethany England’s deflected effort found the back of the net in the 19th minute, before Olivia Holdt increased the deficit.
Cathinka Tandberg would net twice in the second half, while goals from Maika Hamano and Ellie Roebuck secured a sensational 7-3 victory on the road.
The win sees Ho’s side sit level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal, albeit having played more games. But the Champions League ambitions remain in place.
Spurs make the trip to London City in a week, with the sides battling for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals, before they are welcomed with a huge run of fixtures upon the WSL’s return.
Following a home clash against eighth-placed Everton, Spurs travel to runaway leaders Manchester City and North London rivals Arsenal within the space of a week, before they welcome Manchester United to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of April.
Sitting fifth in the standings, a Champions League place could be deemed ambitious for Tottenham, but they have left themselves within the race ahead of a crucial run of fixtures following the league’s return.
Check out Football Insider for the latest updates and insight into what is going on at Tottenham.