City v Manchester United: Barclays WSL Match Preview | OneFootball

Everything you need to know ahead of City's huge Barclays Women's Super League Etihad derby with Manchester United.

WHEN AND WHERE

City welcome Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 11 December, with kick-off scheduled for 12.30pm (UK).

The match is available to watch on live on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer, as well as the BBC Sport website

BARCLAYS WSL ETIHAD DERBY: GET YOUR TICKETS

You can also keep across all the action with regular text commentary, stats and analysis in our Matchday Centre, which gets under way from 11:00am.

A detailed match report and reaction from Gareth Taylor and players alike can be accessed soon after the final whistle, with highlights and a full-match replay - on CITY+ and Recast - available from 12pm on Monday 12 December.

The key moments can also be followed over on our matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen.

TEAM NEWS

City manager Gareth Taylor will provide all the latest team news and squad updates when he holds his pre-match press briefing on Friday, December 9.

The boss will be addressing the media together with Laura Coombs from 14.45pm (UK) and we will have all the latest news as soon as it happens on our web and app.

GARETH TAYLOR PREVIEW

To follow

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are still available for our huge WSL derby clash this weekend!

For more information, including pricing, click here.

WATCH: Steph and Laura: Back at the Etihad

WHAT’S ON AT THE DERBY

While there’s plenty of excitement expected on the pitch, the same can also be said for the activities happening around the stadium before the action gets under way.

Food and drink will be available to purchase from a number of vendors at City Square from 10:00am, with the official welcome getting under way at 10:30am.

Our presenters will guide you through all of the pre-match talking points and will also be joined by City legend Karen Bardsley on stage from 10:50am – who made over a century of appearances for the Club.

City and United boast nine of the victorious England squad from this summer’s European Championship, and supporters can visit the Cityzens hub to have their photo taken with the trophy ahead of kick-off, as well as create their own Dream Team video.

You can also get involved in a number of other activities such as table tennis – and its football equivalent futtoc!

The players will arrive at 11am, with those enjoying the Blue carpet experience able to cheer their heroes into Etihad.

BARCLAYS WSL ETIHAD DERBY: BUY YOUR TICKETS

And Battle of the Bands also continues, with Manchester-based band Strawberry Lemonade playing live at 12pm.

Fans are advised to make their way to their seats by 12:15 in preparation for the Etihad firework display, which will set the tone for a captivating encounter.

But the experience continues at half-time, with supporters able to take part in our half-time quiz and be in with a chance of winning a holiday, sponsored by Costa Darauda.

It promises to be a memorable day out for all involved, with adult tickets available to purchase from £12 and Under-18s costing just £4.

WATCH: Derby day memories: Players react to iconic City v United moments

FORM GUIDE

City have racked up nine consecutive wins in all competitions and six successive Barclays WSL victories.

During that time Gareth Taylor's side have scored 28 times and conceded on just three occasions.

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We go into the match lying in fourth spot in the WSL, six points off top spot with a game in hand and just three behind United and Arsenal who both lie in second and third positions respectively.

United and the Gunners have 21 points from their eight games to date but Marc Skinner’s side boast a slightly better goal difference.

PREVIOUS MEETING

City ran out impressive 4-1 victors in our last derby meeting when the sides locked horns at Leigh Sports Village in a Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie.

Katie Zelem’s early strike gave United a first half lead but City roared back in superb fashion after the break.

Lauren Hemp, Ellen White, Caroline Weir and Bunny Shaw were all on target as Gareth Taylor’s side triumphed in impressive fashion.

WATCH: Classic highlights: United 1-4 City

LAST TIME OUT

City ran out impressive 2-0 winners away at Liverpool to make it three wins out of three in the Continental Cup.

Goals from Filippa Angeldahl and Mary Fowler also left us within touching distance of the last eight.

In a further boost at Prenton Park, Lauren Hemp returned from injury with 15 minutes remaining after missing wins over Everton, Sunderland and Brighton.

United meanwhile come into the game on the back of a 4-2 Continental Cup win at home to Everton.

WATCH: Liverpool 0-2 City: Continental Cup highlights

MATCH STATS

City are unbeaten against Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, winning three times and drawing twice.

United have lost all three of their away games against Manchester City in the WSL – the only other side that they have lost 100% of their away games against in the competition are Chelsea (also 3/3).

City have won each of our last six WSL matches – only Chelsea are currently on a longer winning run in the competition (8).

United have won each of their last four away games in the Women’s Super League, last going on a longer such winning run between February and December in 2020 (6).

City have won each of our last nine home matches in the Women’s Super League, scoring 33 goals at an average of 3.7 per game. They last won more in a row at home between February 2019 and February 2020 (11).

City’s open play sequences have lasted 11.5 seconds on average this season in the Women’s Super League, the longest of any side. Manchester United’s have been the second longest on average (11 seconds).

City (90.6%) and Manchester United (89.8%) rank first and second for the percentage of passes they have played short in this season’s Women’s Super League.

City have averaged more passes per sequence in open play (4) than any other side in the Women’s Super League this season, but opponents Manchester United have restricted their opponents to 2.5 passes per sequence, the fewest of any side.

United’s Katie Zelem has assisted five goals from dead ball situations this season in the Women’s Super League, more than twice as many as any other player.

City’s Laura Coombs has been directly involved in five goals (3 goals, 2 assists) in eight league games this season, already her joint-most goal involvements across a full WSL campaign.