Fiorentina v City: UWCL R16 match preview | OneFootball

All the information you need ahead of our UEFA Women’s Champions League round of 16 second leg tie against Fiorentina.

WHEN AND WHERE?

The game will take place on Thursday 11 March at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with a kick-off time of 13:00 (UK, 14:00 CET).

City lead the Italian side 3-0 from the first leg, thanks to goals from Lauren Hemp, Ellen White and Sam Mewis.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

The match will be available to watch live to CITY+ subscribers* while the action is also being screened by BT Sport. You can also keep up to date with all the action via our Matchday Centre or Twitter account: @ManCityWomen.

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Following the final whistle, a comprehensive report on proceedings, plus reaction from manager Gareth Taylor and a player will also be available to read on mancity.com and our official app.

*Excluding Israel, Australia and Mexico.

RULES

Should the tie remain level after two legs, the winner will be determined by the 'away goals' rule.

For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.

In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.

Officials

WATCH: City 3-0 Fiorentina: Match highlights

FORM GUIDE

City return to European action in superb form, having won each of our last nine FA Women's Super League matches - the latest a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

We secured our passage through to the last 16 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League thanks to a 5-1 aggregate victory over Goteborg FC in the round of 32 in December.

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Fiorentina eliminated Slavia Praha 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 32, thanks to Daniele Sabatino's late strike.

In the Women’s Serie A, the Italian outfit had been on an impressive run of form and - unbeaten in the league during 2021 - before succumbing to successive defeats to Florentia and Sassulo either side of our Champions League first leg clash.

TEAM NEWS

[To follow Gareth Taylor's press conference on Wednesday afternoon...]

GARETH TAYLOR PREVIEW

[To follow Gareth Taylor's press conference on Wednesday afternoon...]

LAST MEETING

A devastating opening four minutes, in which Lauren Hemp and Ellen White were both on the scoresheet, plus a late header from Sam Mewis were enough to hand City a crucial 3-0 first leg win.

The blue touch paper was lit just 90 seconds into the game when Hemp headed home Chloe Kelly’s cross from the right, before White doubled the lead with a typically clinical first-time finish two minutes later.

Substitute Sam Mewis added further gloss to the scoreline by heading home a third in the 89th minute, handing Gareth Taylor's side a healthy advantage going into next Thursday's second leg in Florence.

LAST TIME OUT

Keira Walsh’s pinpoint finish ten minutes from time was enough to secure City a hard-fought 1-0 WSL win over Everton in Steph Houghton’s 200th appearance.

The midfielder met Lauren Hemp's cutback in her stride and decisively swept home late on to finally down our resolute opponents, who pushed Gareth Taylor’s side to their absolute limits.

While it may not have been emphatic, our ninth WSL victory in a row was a true test of our title credentials, and one that we passed with flying colours.

It was also a perfect demonstration of perseverance and a will to win that has become synonymous with our captain as she reached a memorable double century in City colours.

WATCH: City 1-0 Everton: Match Highlights