Manchester United get second chance of Champions League qualification in derby clash vs Man City
City and United will battle it out at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon for a place in the Women's Champions League next season
This weekend marks one of the biggest weekends in the football calendar - the Manchester derby. It’s the penultimate league game of the season and United and City will be battling out for a possible Champions League place at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime.
City will be going into the derby with a double injury boost, and hoping to challenge United to third place going into the final day of the season on May 10.
More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold for Sunday’s derby, and we look at the latest WSL news from both sides of Manchester ahead of the box office event
United blow
United last night made it even harder for themselves to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea not only gifted the visitors the title, but it took United a step further away from UWCL qualification.
However, United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce continued to be performing between the sticks as she pulled off a huge triple save just shy of the hour mark to keep the score at 0-0.
Marc Skinner’s side could have achieved qualification on Wednesday night if they beat Chelsea, however a 75th minute goal from Lucy Bronze sealed all three points for Chelsea and gave them the title.
It was the final game at Leigh Sports Village of the season for United, and the club gave thanks and a commemorative frame to much-loved goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock who will be leaving United at the end of the season.
Skinner’s side remain third in the table, and a point against Manchester City next time out would mathematically ensure a second top-three WSL finish in the space of three seasons.
City boost
Nick Cushing’s side were boosted by the return of Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood following months out with injury during their 1-0 win over Leicester City
It took until the 70th minute for the deadlock to be broken. Leicester, unbeaten on home soil since November, continued to press for a route back into the game, but City held on to close the gap on the WSL top three to four points.
Jess Park scored the only goal as City came away with all three points.
Hemp and Greenwood’s return comes at a vital time for City as they challenge their closest rivals for the final European spot as they head into the derby on Sunday.
City are four points adrift of United heading into the game and know only a win will keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next season's Women's Champions League
The last derby saw City host the Red Devils in the FA Cup semi-final last month but suffered a 2-0 defeat.
City won’t have the home advantage this time either and United will be hoping Old Trafford brings some luck for the women’s team.