City to face Arsenal in WSL opener

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Manchester City F.C.

·22 July 2024

City to face Arsenal in WSL opener

Manchester City will travel to Arsenal for our opening fixture of the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League season.

Gareth Taylor’s side will make the journey south on Sunday 22 September, with kick-off set for 12:30 (UK).

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City took the WSL title race to the final day of the season in 2023/24, missing out on a second-ever league crown on goal difference.

However, the Blues were able to equal our highest-ever points tally, finished the campaign with the best defensive record and achieved the longest unbeaten run across a single season in WSL history.

It was a season to remember, but our latest tilt at the title begins against a side who also possess their own ambitions of silverware, having finished one place and five points behind us.

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That fixture will take place between City’s two-legged UEFA Women’s Champions League play-off, with our opponents revealed in the second round draw on Monday 9 September.

WATCH: The best of City’s 2023/24 WSL season

Our first home game of the season comes seven days later as we welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Joie Stadium on Sunday 27 September.

The Seagulls were one of only two sides to get the better of us on home soil last year, leaving Manchester with a smash and grab 1-0 win in November 2023.

But City avenged that defeat with a convincing 4-1 triumph in March 2024.

Title rivals

With just 22 matches in the season, the WSL is one of the most unforgiving leagues in world football, with even the smallest setback potentially scuppering a title charge.

Clashes between potential title rivals, therefore, have the potential to be season-defining.

After facing Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign, we welcome them back to the Joie Stadium on the weekend of 1/2 February.

Our first meeting with the reigning WSL champions, Chelsea, is on 16/17 November, when we travel to Kingsmeadow having become the first visiting side to come away with three points in over three years in last season’s meeting.

We then host Sonia Bompastor’s side in the reverse fixture on 22/23 March at the Joie Stadium.

WATCH: Pitcam highlights: Chelsea 0-1 City

City v United

A clash with Manchester United is always a key date for the diary, but the timing of our two league clashes throws up a fascinating new dimension to our 2024/25 meetings.

We don’t lock horns with our cross-city rivals until January, in what will be our first league clash of 2025.

That game is set to take place at the Joie Stadium on 18/19 January, with the reverse fixture then scheduled for 3/4 May.

If every there were more reason to get excited for City v United, it means our final away fixture - and penultimate match of the campaign - will be a Manchester derby.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City 3-1 Manchester United

The run in

Two of City’s last three matches are on the road, against Leicester (26/27 April) and, one week later, at Manchester United.

We finish the campaign against WSL newcomers Crystal Palace, hosting them on 10/11 May.

It’s a difficult assignment but, on the weekend that we face Leicester, United host Chelsea and Arsenal face a difficult trip to Aston Villa.

On the final day, meanwhile, Arsenal lock horns with our cross-city rivals, while Chelsea face another tough encounter against Liverpool.

There are no guarantees in football, and certainly no easy games in the WSL, but our pre-season title rivals potentially taking points off each other in the final few weeks of the campaign could certainly play into our hands.

City’s full WSL fixture list can be found below with home matches in bold – but please note each date to be confirmed is stated.

Tickets for our opening three home matches at the Joie Stadium will be available to purchase on Monday 5 August.