Preview: Manchester City Women vs. Manchester United Women

Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash between Manchester City Women and Manchester United Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester City Women will face their local rivals Manchester United Women at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s Women’s Super League contest.

The Citizens are sitting in second place and level on 40 points with leaders Chelsea, while the Red Devils currently occupy fourth position in the WSL table.

Match preview
© Reuters

Man City bounced back from exits in the League Cup and FA Cup to produce a dominant display in last Saturday’s away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Lauren Hemp, Mary Fowler, Bunny Shaw and Laura Coombs all gone on the scoresheet to clinch a commanding 4-1 win and keep them firmly in the race for their first WSL title since 2016.

With Man City sitting behind Chelsea on goal difference, they now have the chance to move to the top of the table and put pressure on their title rivals, who will face West Ham United on Sunday.

With the Citizens set to play at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, they will be hoping to replicate the sort of form they have enjoyed at the Joie Stadium, having won each of their last five home matches in the WSL.

The hosts also have a chance to beat their Manchester rivals for the third time this season after following a 3-1 win in November’s reverse league fixture with a 2-1 victory in January’s League Cup meeting.

Man United have their work cut out to secure Champions League qualification, with six points separating them from third-placed Arsenal.

If they are to have any chance of closing that gap, the Red Devils may need to win each of their final six matches, which would require them to beat Man City in a WSL away game.

Marc Skinner’s side will carry some confidence into Saturday’s contests after recording consecutive victories over Brighton and Bristol City in the FA Cup and league respectively.

They thrashed the Seagulls 4-0 to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals, before they secured a 2-0 win over Bristol City thanks to a Lisa Naalsund brace.

While they will be determined to claim derby bragging rights this weekend, Man United have struggled in recent WSL road trips, having drawn one and lost two of their last three away league matches since beating Tottenham Hotspur at Brisbane Road in December.

Manchester City Women Women’s Super League form:

Manchester City Women form (all competitions):

Manchester United Women Women’s Super League form:

Manchester United Women form (all competitions):

Team News
© Reuters

Manchester City have reported no fresh injury concerns, but they are still unable to call upon long-term absentee Jill Roord.

After seeing his side sweep past Brighton last weekend, Gareth Taylor could be tempted to opt for consistency and name an unchanged lineup for the Manchester derby.

Shaw, who is currently sitting top of the WSL scoring charts, will be looking to add to her 16-goal league tally when she leads the line at the Etihad Stadium.

As for the visitors, they remain with the services of Leah Galton, who will miss a third consecutive game due to a thigh strain.

The 29-year-old is joined in the Man United treatment room by Emma Watson, Jess Simpson, Gabby George and Hinata Miyazawa.

Geyse is in contention to start Saturday’s derby clash after she came off the bench to play the final half-hour of the win over Bristol City.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Keating; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Park, Hasegawa, Coombs; Fowler, Hemp, Shaw

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Earps; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Zelem, Naalsund; Geyse, Toone, Garcia; Parris

We say: Manchester City Women 2-1 Manchester United Women
Man City have already beaten Man United on two occasions this season, and after winning each of their last five home matches, we think the hosts will do enough to get the better of their city rivals on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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