Chelsea at Man City, WSL preview: critical road matchup

On the back of the biggest wins of the 2022/23 campaign, the Chelsea Women continue their road trip with Manchester City next up in the Women’s Super League.

For Emma Hayes’ side, there is no rest. After a battle in France against the current Champions League holders, the Chelsea Women have to turn their eyes to a team just two points behind them in the Women’s Super League. Despite having a game in hand on both Manchester sides, the trip to the Academy Stadium is once again one of the biggest league matches of the campaign.

After ousting United at Kingsmeadow by a goal a few weeks ago, it is time for the Blues to do the same to the blue side of Manchester. Gareth Taylor’s side began the season on a brutal note. Not only did they lose Keira Walsh, and Lucy Bronze among others, City failed to qualify for the Champions League and began the league season with a 4-3 loss to mid-table Aston Villa.

Since dropping the first two matches of the 2022/23 WSL campaign, City has regrouped minus a few bumps in the road. Taylor’s team will be coming off of an FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Aston Villa. That was the third time those two teams met this season, and none of them ended in a City victory. It is not the Manchester side of last season that fought the Blues in two finals, but a win at home against Arsenal in February enlightens the hopes at a potential top-two finish.