The big games keep on coming for Manchester United Women, with Saturday afternoon’s crosstown trip to Manchester City now the focus for Marc Skinner’s side.
Saturday’s 13:30 GMT kick-off at the Etihad Stadium
marks a return to action in the Barclays Women’s Super League for the Reds, following Wednesday’s statement European victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford. That 2-1 triumph was the perfect follow-up to last weekend’s defeat against Aston Villa, our first of the WSL season, with Skinner’s team looking to get back to winning ways in the domestic competition.
United won last season’s corresponding fixture at the Etihad Stadium 4-2 – our first away win over City in the WSL – but will face a different Blues team this Saturday.
Swedish head coach Andree Jeglertz took charge at the start of this season and has since guided his Citizens to the top of the top-flight table, with seven successive wins.
Jeglertz’s side are the division’s top scorers (with 20 goals, narrowly ahead of United on 19), but have won tight games against West Ham (1-0) and Everton (2-1) since the October international break.
Star striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored the winner in the latter at Goodison Park, her fifth strike of the WSL season, which sees her level at the top of the league’s goal standings for 2025/26, with United’s Malard.
TEAM NEWS
Phallon Tullis-Joyce is set to be assessed ahead of the derby, after the goalkeeper missed her first game of the season in midweek with a facial knock.
Melvine Malard was withdrawn in the second half against PSG but Skinner suggested afterwards that the France international, who scored a brilliant goal on the night, should be okay for the weekend.
Dominique Janssen is set to return to the fold after a one-match European suspension prevented her from being involved against PSG, while Celin Bizet Donnum is a recent absentee (back injury) whom Skinner may provide the latest on in Friday’s pre-match press conference. Centre-back Millie Turner isn’t expected to be back from a knee issue until the new year.
As for City, ex-United captain Alex Greenwood, Mary Fowler, Kerolin and Lily Murphy aren’t available, but former Red Grace Clinton could face her old club for the first time since departing in the summer, after a recent spell on the sidelines. Lauren Hemp, Rebecca Knaak and Sydney Lohmann are also in contention to play a part as they work their way back to full fitness.
