Scottish Women’s Premier League post-split fixtures announced | OneFootball

Photo: Colin Poultney/SWPL

The SWPL has announced the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League post-split fixtures, which get underway from Sunday 16 March.

Scotland’s top teams will complete the initial 22 rounds of fixtures on Sunday 2 March, with the top and bottom six teams splitting for the remainder of the season. With 10 rounds of fixtures post-split, there is everything to play for with battles at both ends of the table for the league title and UEFA Women’s Champions League spots in the top half, as well as the fight to avoid finishing in the bottom three which will result in automatic relegation, facilitating the league restructuring next season.

The opening round of the top six post-split fixtures includes a potentially huge match in the race for the title as Glasgow City host Hibernian. Second place Glasgow City and fourth place Hibernian are currently tied on 51 points, and a victory would secure a vital three points for either side. Sixteen-time winners Glasgow City won 3-0 against Hibernian earlier this season, however the Hibees secured a 3-1 win at home in the most recent meeting of the two sides in January this year.

Reigning champions, Celtic, start with a potentially tricky away tie to Heart of Midlothian. Despite a dominant win over Hearts in January, the Hoops can expect a difficult match having lost 1-0 away to Hearts at the beginning of the season, as Hearts demonstrated their own title credentials. In the other opening matches, current league leaders, Rangers, will face Motherwell – who have reached the SWPL Top Six for the first time in their history. A historic achievement for the club, who have built a momentum that could help them secure their first ever points in the Top Six. On the final day of the season (Sunday 18 May), Rangers host Hibernian, Celtic welcome Motherwell, and Glasgow City are at home to Hearts.

In the bottom six, the opening round sees the current ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 champions, Queen’s Park host ninth-placed Spartans. The two sides faced each other in November, with the clash resulting in both teams securing an important point, after a tight 1-1 draw. The away side are also in good form, after netting six goals in their victory over Dundee United in their most recent fixture.

At the foot of the table, as it stands, sit Dundee United who trail Queen’s Park in 11th by three points. They face an away tie against a resurgent Aberdeen in Round 23 who currently hold a comfortable fourteen-point lead over the Tangerines. A win would be crucial for Dundee United, as they look to secure vital points, in their quest to avoid relegation this season.

The other Round 23 match in the bottom six sees Partick Thistle travel to Montrose. The Jags are currently in seventh, twelve points clear of the automatic relegation spots as they look to finish above the rest in the bottom six. Montrose will also be eager to secure a win,, as they currently sit six points short of safety. The two sides have shared the points twice already this season, after a 3-3 draw in December and a 1-1 draw back in October. On the final day of the season Montrose are at home to Dundee United, Queen’s Park host Aberdeen, and Spartans welcome Partick Thistle.

SWPL Post-Split Fixtures

SWPL Managing Director, Fiona McIntyre, said: “The ScottishPower Women’s Premier League has become renowned in recent years for tight title races and incredible final day drama, so we are delighted to reveal the post-split fixtures today which set the stage for what we anticipate will be another epic race to the title. Incredibly the 2024/2025 Season looks set to eclipse anything we have seen before, with an unprecedented four clubs currently on 51 points after 21 matches.

“With there being three relegation spots in preparation for next season’s new competition format, it is shaping up to be just as compelling in the bottom half of the table. Every fixture over the next three months will contribute towards the race for the title or the battle to avoid relegation.

“The feedback from across the game has been that the split was a welcome addition to the women’s game, creating incredible drama and allowing us to showcase the very best of women’s football in Scotland. We expect it will have a similar impact this season and we now look forward to a fantastic finale with the title, European qualification, and avoiding relegation all being played for across the next few months. We encourage fans to play their part and to get along to a ScottishPower Women’s Premier League match as we enter the final ten rounds of the season.”

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