Manchester City Women secured a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over rivals Manchester United in their final pre-season friendly on a wet and overcast day in east Manchester. The victory provides a positive send-off before the club begins its Barclays Women's Super League title defence next Sunday, aiming to build on last season's dominant campaign where they finished first with 55 points, four points clear of Arsenal.
How did Manchester City Women perform in the derby?
Manager Andrée Jeglertz saw his side create the better chances throughout the contest. Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw was a constant threat, forcing the ball home for the opening goal and coming close twice more in the first twenty minutes. Mary Fowler also tested the United defence, controlling a floated cross from the left and seeing a well-hit shot cleared off the line. The team's attacking intent was clear from the start.
Lauren Hemp nearly added to the lead when her shot was expertly tipped onto the post by Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, with Shaw providing the assist for that opportunity. At the other end, City's defence and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita stood firm. Yamashita made a brilliant diving save to tip a dangerous effort from Elisabeth Terland wide of the post, preserving the clean sheet.
Who scored for Manchester City Women?
The goals came from two different sources, highlighting the squad's depth. Khadija Shaw opened the scoring with a determined finish. The second goal was a moment of individual quality from substitute Iman Beney. In the second half, Beney received the ball from Beth Mead, another player introduced after the break, and unleashed a left-footed effort from around 20 yards. The shot squirmed past Tullis-Joyce to double City's advantage and secure the result.
Several players got valuable minutes as part of the pre-season build-up. Alongside Beney and Mead, Sam Coffey also featured in the second half as Jeglertz rotated his squad. This match practice is vital ahead of the competitive fixtures, which you can track on our fixtures page.
What's next for Manchester City Women?
The focus now shifts immediately to the start of the competitive season. Manchester City's WSL title defence begins in just over a week. They host Birmingham City at the Joie Stadium next Sunday, with kick-off at 14:30 UK time. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Tickets for the opening league fixture are available, starting from £10 for adults and £5 for Under-18s. Fans can also get ready for the new campaign by purchasing the 2026/27 Home Kit, which features a gradient of sky blue with metallic monochrome crest and sponsor details. It is available online and in Official Stores in the Stadium, Arndale, and Trafford Centre, with a 10% discount for Members and Seasoncard holders applied automatically online. Free delivery is available on orders over £90.
This pre-season win builds on a formidable platform. Last season, City scored 62 goals and conceded only 19, resulting in a +43 goal difference. Maintaining that defensive solidity and attacking firepower will be the target as they look to start the new WSL season with three points. The squad's current composition and form can be followed on our squad and stats pages. This result, reported by mancity.com, provides a timely boost before the real action gets underway.
