Manchester City Women v Brighton & Hove Albion: Preview, Team News And Prediction

Opposition: Brighton & Hove Albion Women

Competition: WSL

Time and Date: 13^th September 2020 at 1400

Venue: Academy Stadium, Manchester, UK

How to watch: The game will be broadcast live on City+ (subscription required after 30 day free trial).

Preview

Manchester City women will look to build on their opening day win at Aston Villa as they welcome Brighton Women to the Academy Stadium. Two goals from Georgia Stanway was enough to see off the newly promoted side, and although both goals came from defensive errors, City created enough chances to win by a larger margin.

The blues gave WSL debuts to Same Mewis and Chloe Kelly, and now also have the returning Lucy Bronze and further new signing Alex Greenwood to choose from, and face a Brighton side that also won on their opening day.

The Seagulls dispatched Birmingham City Women 2-0 in their opening match of the season, thanks to goals from Megan Connolly and Inessa Kaagman. Connolly in particular will be the one to watch for the blues after she scored one and created one in that match, and the City defence will need to be on good form to prevent her from doing similar on Sunday.

Victory for City will see the blues leapfrog the Seagulls into at least third place in the early days of the league, but they will need the three points to keep pace with Arsenal, who made a blistering start to the season by demolishing Reading 6-1.

Team News

Manager Gareth Taylor will have three new players to choose from for Sunday’s match. American star Rose Lavelle has completed her quarantine period and joined up with the blues for training this week, while Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood joined City from Lyon. Lauren Hemp will miss the match due to a hamstring injury sustained in the Community Shield match against Chelsea.

Prediction

Although City had a few scary moments against Villa*, the result wasn’t really in any doubt and the blues could well have stepped up a few gears if it was required. I think it will be a similar story on Sunday and City will be too strong for Brighton.

City 3-0 Brighton

*Last week’s prediction – 2-0 City