Manchester United and Chelsea meet at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night in a crunch Women’s Super League clash, with both sides having plenty to play for with just three games remaining of the league season.
The clash will also be a dress rehearsal for this season’s FA Cup Final, which will see the competition’s last two winners go head to head at Wembley on Sunday 18 May- the third season in a row they have met in the competition.
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their bruising Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona on Sunday, while Manchester United return to action for the first time in 11 days since their 0-0 draw with West Ham United.
How it currently stands
Chelsea currently hold a six point lead over Arsenal in the title race and will no doubt have one eye on events elsewhere as earlier on in the evening the Gunners are in the Midlands to take on Aston Villa.
Should Rene Slegers’ side, who reached the Champions League final on Sunday, drop points to Villa, Chelsea would have the chance to seal a sixth successive title with victory in Leigh. Even if Arsenal win, a victory for the leaders would still move them to within a point of the title.
United are currently in third with a four point lead over Manchester City in the battle for the third and final Champions League spot. Victory on Wednesday night would seal a second European campaign in three seasons for Marc Skinner’s side.
Recent form
The twin 4-1 defeats to Barcelona have proved to be a rare negative spot for Chelsea in Sonia Bompastor’s first season in charge since replacing legendary manager Emma Hayes in the summer. They are the only two games they have lost in all competitions this season.
Their last league game saw them beat now relegated Crystal Palace 4-0, while their last away game saw them record a crucial 2-1 win over Manchester City. Since the winter break, Chelsea have won seven of their nine league games, drawing the other two.
United’s last game saw them held to an uninspiring goalless draw at West Ham, but since the winter break they have been in largely excellent form. They have also won seven of their nine league games and have won their last five at home.
Defence has been a key part of United’s success this season, the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool last month and League Cup exit to City in January the only times they have conceded more than once in a game this season.
Key Team News
Speaking to club media ahead of the game, Skinner said he has no new injury worries and has a fully fit squad to choose from. He also praised goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who this week committed her future to the club for another three years.
Reflecting on the reverse fixture, which Chelsea won 1-0, he said his side learned lessons from that game and in order to get the win this time around will need to find a better balance between attack and defence.
In her own pre-match interview, Bompastor was hopeful defender Nathalie Bjorn could be fit to face United after missing the last two games following injuries to her calf and achilles.
Bompastor did not put a timeframe on when Australian superstar Sam Kerr will be available, saying: “The medics are doing everything for her to play this season. We only have a few games left, so hopefully yes, but it’s difficult for me to have a clear answer.”
Prediction
United fans won’t need reminding that Chelsea are the only side they have never beaten in a WSL game since promotion. Their only previous win in this fixture came in the semi-finals of last season’s FA Cup when the Red Devils claimed a 2-1 win.
The fact United have had 11 days to prepare while Chelsea have played three times in that period, two of which were heavy defeats, should give United the belief that this is a good opportunity to finally end their league hoodoo over the champions.