Rangers and Hearts swap domestic matters for European challenges this week and both teams will do so with a spring in their step.
Leanne Crichton's side returned to the summit of the SWPL after they were briefly displaced by a Celtic team who were in action on Friday evening.
They dismissed Aberdeen, still winless and pointless after the opening five league games, with a composed 3-1 win.
The game was over at the break by which time Rangers had established what became an unassailable lead. Laura Berry claimed a brace before Katie Wilkinson netted to send them into the interval with the game effectively over as a contest.
Melissa Regmi pulled one back for the Dons in the second period but there was little sign that Rangers would relinquish their advantage.
Crichton now takes Rangers to Sweden to face Hammarby on Wednesday night in the second qualifying round of the Europa Cup.
They are joined in that quest alongside Hearts who picked up another three points. They host Real Sociedad on Wednesday night at Ainslie Park with Andy Thomson’s side preparing for that one on the back of a 1-0 win over Spartans.
Carly Johns’ goal just before the half-hour mark was sufficient to give Hearts the lead as they look now to the enormous test awaiting them against the Spaniards this week.
“We are looking forward to it and we are excited by it,” said Thomson. “It is a massive game for us. We have a really young squad and this is the kind of game that will be huge for them.”
Glasgow City beat Partick Thistle 4-1 at Petershill. Abby Robinson had given Gary Holt’ side a first-half lead before City took control of the afternoon.
Erin McLaughlin restored parity before City upped it in the second period. Linda Motlhalo put them in front for the first time before Lisa Forrest added a third. Yukka Kurosaki netted her first goal for the club and City’s fourth of the day.
“It was a slow start for us today,” said Leanne Ross. “We have seen that Thistle have caused other teams problems with the way that they want to go and press.
“We struggled to get to grips with that. But after going behind in the game we showed a lot of character and the second-half performance was much more like us.”
Like Hibs, they are five points off the pace of Rangers and Celtic and two behind reigning champions Hearts. Joelle Murray’s side dismissed Montrose – who miserable plight mirrors that of Aberdeen – with a 6-1 win.
Libby Smith claimed a hat-trick with Tiree Burchill, Aoife Colvill and Jasmie McQuade all chipping in with the goals. Scarlett Heron netted an own-goal a minute before Chloe Gover was sent off.
Celtic kept up their 100% record on Friday night with a 1-0 win over Motherwell with Shannon McGregor netting the only goal of the game in the 92nd minute.
“The football is a bit ugly at the minute but you cannot underestimate the power of winning games,” said Celtic manager Grant Scott. “There are clearly things we want to work on but we signed a lot of players this summer and it is always going to time for them to acclimatise.”
