Featured image: James Boyes (CC BY 2.0)

In the Lionesses’ second match of the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup, they will take on Spain, the team widely considered to be the favourites for the upcoming Euros. The majority of the Spanish international players play in the Primera División Femenina, Spain’s top league, with a sizable number of them forming the formidable Champions League-winning FC Barcelona Femení squad. Barça currently sit top of the Primera División Femenina, with 21 matches played and won, 122 goals scored and 6 conceded – though they’ll probably have scored more between the time I’m writing this and you reading it.

As such, this match, alongside the rest of the matches in the ACC, will be a tough and exciting test for the Lionesses and a chance to test their mettle only five months out from the home Euros. It takes place at Carrow Road in Norwich, with the tournament organisers hoping to draw in crowds in parts of the country usually not served by women’s international football matches.

Spain will expect to control possession for the majority of the match, with a very athletic, well drilled style of play featuring lots of one-touch football, which will be a great watch for the neutrals and football purists. England will have to hope to disrupt their style of play, or hope to exploit any spaces Spain may leave behind and take their chances when they do have possession. In contrast to many of their recent WWC qualifying matches, the Lionesses backline will be under pressure. Fortunately, both goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and defender Lucy Bronze return from injury to strengthen it. 

Players to watch: You can’t talk about women’s football without mentioning midfielder Alexia Putellas, the captain of Barcelona who has also won many individual accolades in the past year, including the Ballon d’Or Feminin. Further Spanish goal threats come from Jenni Hermoso, Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. For those looking for a familiar face on the opposition side, watch out for Ona Batlle who plays as a defender for Manchester United in the WSL. A Manchester derby in miniature may be found between Batlle and young Lionesses forward Lauren Hemp (a Norwich City youth player) – always an excellent duel to be found there. On the Lionesses side, watch for Leah Williamson, who may play as a centre-back or as CDM but, either way, will be a central player to the Lionesses defence. And Ellie Roebuck may have her work cut out for her but I’m looking forward to seeing her make some world-class saves nonetheless. 

The ACC will also be of interest to Lionesses fans in terms of who Sarina Wiegman will give captaincy to ahead of the Euros. Leah Williamson and Millie Bright have both captained the England side in recent months with Steph Houghton out injured, and as Houghton continues to sit out of the England camps Wiegman has a decision to make on whether to captain Bright, Williamson or a returning Lucy Bronze. The Lionesses are in an exciting transition period with a new manager and younger talent breaking through the old guard – it remains to be seen whether record goal scorer Ellen White will continue to start ahead of Alessia Russo, who has been in fine form for Manchester United in the past months. 

Whatever the scoreline at the end, this match will set England up well to challenge for the Euros – and will give the rest of us the excuse to watch Spain’s truly beautiful football. 

Kick off is at 3:15PM on the 20th February, and is available to watch on ITV.