BBC Women's Football Weekly

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines reflect on a busy weekend of football from European exits to the finale of the WSL 2 season.
Arsenal’s hopes of defending their European title ended on Saturday as they were beaten by Lyon. The team react to a standout display from Melchie Dumournay and Arsenal’s European campaign as a whole. Barcelona also became the first club to reach six consecutive UWCL finals, but can we read anything into Alexia Putellas’ emotional departure from the pitch at the Camp Nou?
Manchester City left it late to ensure that winning the Women's Super League remains in their hands. Ellen and Jen discuss the importance of City finding a way to win and touch on the brilliance of Lauren James after Chelsea secured European football for next season.
Plus, the WSL 2 came to a dramatic conclusion with Birmingham City and Crystal Palace gaining promotion to the Women's Super League. Hayley Ladd joins the pod to chat Crystal Palace making an immediate return to the WSL and Martha Harris chats to the team about promotion parties after beating Charlton the final day to finish top of the table!
Ellen, Jen and Ben also look ahead to this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals as Brighton take on Liverpool and Chelsea welcome Manchester City to Stamford Bridge.
TIMECODES:
02:11 - Arsenal’s hopes of defending their European title were ended by Lyon.
10:25 - Lyon and Barcelona will meet in the UWCL final, again!
15:30 - Round up of new WSL contracts and departure news.
16:55 - Manchester City seal a win in the Knaack of time!
18:55 - Chelsea confirm their spot in the Champions League next season.
21:40 - Ellen is set to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame!
23:38 - A dramatic final day in the WSL 2.
28:22 - Crystal Palace midfielder Hayley Ladd joins the pod.
34:40 - Birmingham City defender Martha Harris joins the pod.
40:09 - We look ahead to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Ahead of a crucial Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich, Klara Bühl sits down with Ben Haines to chat life on and off the pitch.
The German winger is the undisputed assist Queen in Europe this season and chats to Ben about finding the joy in football, how coaches get the best out of her and her football inspirations growing up.
Klara also talks about her rapid rise after making her senior debut for SC Freiburg at just 16-years-old, major tournaments with Germany and Bayern Munich’s coffee club gatherings at Jovana Damnjanović’s cafe!
TIMECODES:
01:09 - Klara sits down with Ben Haines.
01:55 - On the team culture at Bayern Munich.
04:58 - On her enjoyment on the game contributing to her form.
10:20 - Learning to find the joy in football.
13:55 - How would she describe her style of play and providing assists.
18:25 - On her football inspirations growing up.
21:00 - On her rapid rise after joining SC Freiburg.
24:55 - On her first major tournament with Germany 2019.
27:20 - On her positive mindset.
29:05 - On her mixed experience at Euro 2022.
32:20 - Life and creativity away from the pitch.

One day on from announcing her retirement, Chelsea and Lionesses legend Millie Bright sits down with Jo Currie to discuss her decision.
A Euros winner in 2022, the 32-year-old has now left Chelsea after 294 appearances, eight Women's Super League titles, six FA Cups and four League Cups.
Millie chats to Jo about being both ‘physically and mentally’ ready to say goodbye to football and how she has dealt with the most challenging two years of her life. Bright also reflects on her playing career, which has crossed two eras of women's football, and opens up on what the future holds.

Ellen, Jen and Ben digest a huge week, which saw WSL leaders Man City drop points and put Arsenal 90 minutes from the Champions League final.
With Arsenal taking a 2-1 lead into the semi-final second leg; how were they able to handle Lyon? And can they keep it up?
In the other semi, it's level between Bayern Munich and Barcelona where Franziska Kett was sent off for a hair-pull; are we seeing more of that as an offence?
As for the WSL, Manchester City remain in the driving seat for the title, but how costly might Saturday's loss to Brighton prove to be? 
And as Chelsea make a permanent move to Stamford Bridge and Brighton announce a new purpose-built stadium, how do clubs ensure that these projects work? And what do Ellen and Jen want to see as part of the plans? 
TIMECODES:
2:05 Arsenal show up in the second half of their semi
11:57 Flair on show between Bayern Munich and Barcelona 
20:30 Is hair-pulling becoming more common in football or are we just more aware of it now? 
23'14 Will Manchester City be concerned by dropping points at Brighton? 
28:19 Manchester United's slump 
32:56 Sam Kerr levels the Chelsea WSL goal scoring record
34:24 Sonia Bompastor and Sam Kerr on Chelsea's move to Stamford Bridge
35:15 Brighton release proposal for Europe's first purpose-built women's football stadium
42:57 WSL2 goes to the final day

Ahead of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals, Guillem Balagué sits down with Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who is personally going for a fourth consecutive UWCL title, and a fifth overall!
Mariona gives us an insight into her childhood on the island of Mallorca, moving to Barcelona at the age of 18 and how she’s adapted since moving to Arsenal July in 2024.
Plus, the pair look ahead to facing European giants Lyon in the semi-finals this season, just how much the Champions League means to her and of course, discuss the growing rivalry on the international stage that is Spain vs the Lionesses!
Commentary of both legs of Arsenal’s semi-final against Lyon will be on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.
TIMECODES:
00:46 - Mariona sits down with Guillem.
01:17 - Mariona tells us about her childhood in Felanitx, on the island of Mallorca.
06:40 - On joining Barcelona at 18 years old.
08:50 - On moving to Arsenal back in the summer of 2024 and how she’s adapted.
12:24 - On the recognition she achieved during her first season in England.
15:45 - On her club captain Kim Little and playing at the Emirates.
21:20 - Looking back on last year’s Champions League win.
22:40 - Looking ahead to this year’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon.
28:50 - On the developing rivalry between Spain and the Lionesses.