Preview: Manchester City Women vs. Manchester United Women – prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester United Women will make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium for Sunday’s derby clash with Manchester City Women.

The hosts are sitting in second place in the Women’s Super League table, while the visitors are one point adrift in fourth position.

Match preview

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Man City start 2025 with a six-point gap to leaders Chelsea after winning seven, drawing one and losing two of their 10 league games this season.

The Citizens failed to take advantage of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City before the winter break, suffering a surprise 2-1 away defeat against Everton to leave them with significant work to do if they are to win the WSL title for the first time since 2016.

They experienced more disappointment a few days after their defeat to Everton, missing out on top spot in their Women’s Champions League group due to a heavy 3-0 away defeat against reigning European champions Barcelona.

After losing their final two matches of 2024, Man City returned to winning ways in their first outing of the calendar year, with Jill Roord, Laura Coombs and Vivianne Miedema all finding the net in a 3-0 victory over third-tier Ipswich Town in the FA Cup.

That result represented a fifth consecutive home win without conceding, and they will look to make use of home advantage once again in Sunday’s derby clash, as they go in search of a fourth successive head-to-head win against their city rivals.

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Man United are sitting behind third-place Arsenal on goal difference after winning six, drawing three and losing one of their 10 WSL matches this season.

That solitary league defeat took place on November 24 when they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Chelsea following a Guro Reiten penalty.

The Red Devils bounced back from that result to record WSL victories against Liverpool and Crystal Palace, either side of a 5-3 win over Newcastle United which sealed their place in the Women’s League Cup quarter-finals.

They extended their winning run to four matches with a dominant performance in their first outing of 2025, with Celine Bizet netting a hat-trick in a 7-0 FA Cup win over third-tier West Bromwich Albion to maintain the club’s unbeaten home record in the current campaign (W6, D2).

Man United now head on their travels with aspirations of claiming their first WSL away win over Man City, with their only previous WSL derby win taking place on home turf in May 2023.

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

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Man City boss Gareth Taylor remains without the services of defender Alex Greenwood and attacker Lauren Hemp due to knee injuries.

Bunny Shaw is closing in on a return to fitness, but the striker will not be ready in time for Sunday’s Manchester derby.

January addition Rebecca Knaak could be given the chance to make her first WSL appearance after debuting in last Sunday’s FA Cup meeting with Ipswich.

As for the visitors, they are without the injured duo of Evie Rabjohn and Lisa Naalsund, while Geyse is unavailable due to personal reasons.

Skinner has confirmed that Simi Awujo and Grace Clinton have taken part in full training and will return to the squad for Sunday’s derby.

Terland will offer one of Man United’s main attacking threats after scoring four goals in nine WSL appearances this season.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Yamashita; Casparij, Knaak, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Roord, Hasegawa, Blindkilde; Fowler, Fujino, Park

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Miyazawa, Janssen; Bizet, Clinton, Galton; Terland

We say: Manchester City Women 1-1 Manchester United Women

Man City are unable to call upon a number of key players, and we think the absence of Shaw, Greenwood and Hemp could prove to be an important factor, which is why we think the hosts will have to be content with a point in Sunday’s Manchester derby.

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

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