Aston Villa Women v Manchester City Women: Preview And Prediction

Opposition: Aston Villa Women

Competition: WSL

Time and Date: 5^th September 2020 at 1430

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham, UK

How to watch: The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK and through their social media platforms.

Preview:

The WSL returns this weekend and the opening match sees the City girls travel to the Midlands to face newly promoted Aston Villa.

The blues suffered Community Shield heartbreak last weekend when they lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Wembley and City will be hoping for a better outcome at Villa Park this afternoon.

The home side are making their debut in the WSL top flight, having been promoted as second tier champions last season. Villa have had a busy summer in the transfer market, bringing in seven new faces, including Denmark striker Stine Larsen, who brings Champions League experience to the club.

The match will be manager Gareth Taylor’s first WSL game as boss and he will be looking for a strong response from the girls following last week’s Wembley defeat. “We’ve got plenty of things to work on, but we have to dust ourselves off and go again.

“We’ll remain level, we’ll keep working day in day out and continue looking forward to our objectives this season.”

Team News:

Lauren Hemp will miss the game after she was withdrawn from the Wembley match with a hamstring injury and faces some time on the sidelines. Rose Lavelle could make her debut for the blues after being quarantined last weekend, while Chloe Kelly could be again given the nod ahead of Ellen White.

Last Time Out:

While this will be the first top flight meeting between the two side, City and Villa last met in the Continental Cup in 2018. On that occasion, goals from Lauren Hemp (her first for the club), Gemma Bonner, Janine Beckie and Jess Park earned the blues a 4-0 victory.

Prediction:

It’s a tough opening match but despite Villa’s new signings, City should have too much for the home side.

Villa 0-2 City