Manchester City Women face a major test of their title credentials away to Manchester United Women this Sunday. The derby kicks off at 18:00 at Leigh Sports Village, with City aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the WSL season.
City sit first in the table with a perfect 18 points from six games, two points clear of Chelsea. Their last outing was a 3-2 win over Brighton, where Khadija Shaw scored twice to take her season tally to seven goals in six appearances. That result continued a strong run of form that includes three wins and two draws from their last five matches across all competitions.
Recent form
They followed the Brighton victory with a 4-2 win over Arsenal earlier this month, where Lauren Hemp scored a brace. In the Champions League, they earned creditable draws against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Shaw's partnership with Hemp, who provided both assists in the last league game, is a key attacking threat. The team's recent results show they are scoring freely, with 19 goals in the league so far.
United, currently fifth, present a formidable challenge. They have won their last five matches in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory at Charlton Athletic last weekend. Their attack is led by Elisabeth Terland, supported by the creative talents of Toone and Jessica Park. Their defence, marshalled by Le Tissier and Janssen, has been solid.
Team news
City are expected to field a strong side. The starting lineup that beat Brighton featured A. Yamashita in goal, with a back four of K. Casparij, Jade Rose, A. Greenwood, and Niamh Charles. The midfield trio of Laura Blindkilde Brown, Yui Hasegawa, and A. Fujino provided the platform for forwards Grace Clinton, L. Hemp, and K. Shaw.
This fixture is always fiercely contested. City's last visit to Leigh Sports Village ended in a narrow defeat, adding extra motivation for the league leaders. A win would not only secure local bragging rights but also apply significant pressure on their closest rivals. The match concludes a busy October for City, who will then look ahead to the next phase of their season. The derby kicks off at 18:00 on Sunday.
