After Barcelona crushed their European dreams, Chelsea Women will turn their focus back to their Women’s Super League title bid when they travel to Leigh Sports Village for Wednesday’s meeting with Manchester United Women.
The Blues are sitting six points clear at the top of the WSL table, while Man United are eight points adrift in third position.
Match preview
Having collected 43 points from 19 league games, Man United have already bettered last season’s points tally by eight points, representing the improvement that they have made to go from a fifth-placed finish to the brink of European qualification.
In fact, the Red Devils could secure their place in the Women’s Champions League with a win on Wednesday, given the fact that they boast a four-point advantage over fourth-placed Manchester City, who have played a game more than their local rivals.
The midweek fixture represents the start of a difficult run-in, which will see the Red Devils face Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal in their final three league games of the season.
They will then try to retain their FA Cup trophy in next month’s final against Chelsea, giving Wednesday’s game some extra edge ahead of the Wembley showdown.
Marc Skinner‘s side will carry a four-game unbeaten run into the home clash, although they would have been frustrated to see their three-game winning run ended by a goalless draw against West Ham United in their most recent outing.
They did at least record a fourth consecutive clean sheet, and a sturdy backline could be key if Man United are to claim their first-ever WSL victory over Chelsea.
Chelsea will have to pick themselves up for the away trip after their quadruple hopes were ended by their Women’s Champions League semi-final defeat against reigning European champions Barcelona.
After losing 4-1 in the away leg, Chelsea’s hopes of an unlikely comeback were ended in a disastrous first half in Sunday’s return fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Aitana Bonmati, Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina all found the net to give Barcelona a three-goal lead at the break, before the second period produced a goal for either side as Chelsea fell to a humbling 8-1 aggregate defeat.
Chelsea only have a matter of days to recover from their third consecutive UWCL semi-final exit at the hands of Barcelona, as they now turn their focus back to their bid to win a sixth consecutive WSL title, with Sonia Bompastor‘s side boasting a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.
The Blues will take great confidence from the fact that they have won each of their previous eight WSL meetings with Man United, including a narrow 1-0 victory in November’s reverse fixture.
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Team News
Man United defender Evie Rabjohn remains unavailable for selection as she continues to work on her rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.
Skinner is expected to keep changes to a minimum, although he could be tempted to bring Dominique Janssen into the side to shore up the midfield.
Elisabeth Terland will continue to lead the line for the Red Devils after scoring nine goals in 17 league appearances this season.
As for Chelsea, they remain without the services of Sam Kerr, Kadiesha Buchanan, Sophie Ingle, Femke Liefting and Zecira Musovic.
Defender Nathalie Bjorn will have to be assessed after missing the last two matches since being forced off in the latter stages of the first leg against Barcelona.
Bompastor could make a few changes to the side that started Sunday’s second leg, with Ashley Lawrence, Wieke Kaptein and Aggie Beever-Jones among those who could come into the side for Wednesday’s contest.
Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Bizet, Clinton, Janssen, Toone, Galton; Terland
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Lawrence, Bright, Baltimore; Cuthbert, Nusken; Rytting Kaneryd, Kaptein, Beever-Jones; Ramirez
We say: Manchester United Women 1-1 Chelsea Women
Chelsea could be physically and emotionally exhausted following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, and while they will want to return to winning ways on Wednesday, we think thatvthey will have to settle for a draw when they face a Man United side that have avoided defeat in all nine of their WSL home games this season (W7, D2).
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