Booth wary of Freda magic as City face last-32 test against Cypriot champions

Scott Booth has identified JK Rowling fan and published author Krystyna Freda as one of the biggest threats facing Glasgow City in their Women’s Champions League last32 first leg tie against Somatio Barcelona in Limassol today.

City head coach Booth, pictured, has watched the Cypriot champions, who were founded less than three years ago, several times on video and he said: “They are a good side and have a real threat from two players in particular.

“Freda is a good goalscorer through the middle and they have a player wide left from the Ivory Coast, Rebecca Elloh, who combines with her really well. Elloh is sprinter-quick, dribbles past players for fun, likes to get on the end of things and score goals. Both her and Freda like to utilise the space behind the back line.”

Freda, 24, has played at a high level in the United States and has an unusual second string to her bow – she has had a science fiction book published about a US President being cloned.

In a recent interview, Freda said the first book she can remember her mother reading to her was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (the US edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone). Her favourite author is Rowling. Nevertheless, Booth is more concerned about the American’s ability to conjure up goals. She scored two in each of her side’s three qualifying group games, which were also her club’s first taste of Champions League football.

The good news for Booth is that he has Hayley Lauder available again. The attacking midfielder missed City’s qualifying group matches, and also Scotland’s two recent World Cup qualifiers, with a calf strain. She was re-introduced to the side in the 3-0 SBS SWPL1 win against Stirling University on Sunday, coming on at half-time and scoring the final goal.

“She’s looking sharp, but we have to handle her with care,” Booth pointed out. Lauder is no stranger to football in Cyprus, having been contracted by Apollon Ladies for their Champions League campaign in 2011 and scoring five goals.

Apollon were the leading club in Cyprus until Somatio’s formation in 2016. Like Biikkazygurt, who knocked City out on away goals at this stage of the competition last season, they have a core of players from the US and Africa.

The return leg is in Glasgow on 27 September.