Women’s Champions League Preview: St Polten Women vs. Manchester City Women
On Wednesday, the picturesque backdrop of Austria will set the stage for an exciting clash in the Women’s Champions League as St Polten Women host Manchester City Women. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to make their mark in the group stage of this prestigious tournament.
Match Preview
St Polten Women, the reigning champions of Austria, are making their fourth appearance in the final 16 of the Women’s Champions League in the last five seasons. Their journey to this stage was commendable, as they successfully navigated through the qualifying rounds, defeating Neftci Baki and Vllaznia before securing an impressive 8-0 aggregate victory over ZNK Mura. However, their European campaign hit a snag in their group opener, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Hammarby. This loss puts them under pressure, knowing that they must secure points against formidable opponents like Manchester City and Barcelona in their upcoming fixtures.
In contrast, Manchester City Women are riding high on confidence after a stellar start to their season. Under the guidance of manager Gareth Taylor, they have recorded seven wins and one draw across all competitions, including a significant victory over three-time European champions Barcelona in their opening group match. The 2-0 win at the Joie Stadium showcased City’s attacking prowess, with Naomi Layzell and Khadija Shaw finding the back of the net. Shaw, in particular, has been in sensational form, scoring a brace in a recent WSL match against Liverpool, further solidifying her status as a key player for the team.
Team News
St Polten Women
St Polten will be without defender Ella Touon, who is sidelined with a knee injury. However, there is hope for a defensive boost as Tea Vracevic could return to the lineup after being benched in their recent league win against Dornbirn. Coach Celia Brancao may also consider bringing back Sophie Hillebrand and Sarah Mattner-Trembleau to strengthen the squad as they look for their first victory in the main draw since November 2022.
Manchester City Women
For the visitors, Manchester City will miss the services of Risa Shimizu and Sandy MacIver, both of whom are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Naomi Layzell is also expected to miss out due to an injury sustained during the match against Barcelona. Additionally, the availability of Dutch international Vivianne Miedema remains uncertain as she was absent for the recent clash against Liverpool. However, the form of Khadija Shaw, who has scored six goals in her last five appearances, will be a significant asset for City as they aim to maintain their winning streak.
Possible Lineups
St Polten Women:
- Goalkeeper: Schluter
- Defenders: Krizaj, Vracevic, Klein, Wenger
- Midfielders: Mikolajova, Hillebrand, Dubcova
- Forwards: Madl, Mattner-Trembleau, Pekel
Manchester City Women:
- Goalkeeper: Yamashita
- Defenders: Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi
- Midfielders: Park, Hasegawa, Roord
- Forwards: Fowler, Hemp, Shaw
Prediction
Given Manchester City’s current form and their impressive performance against Barcelona, they will enter this match as favorites. Their solid defensive record, having kept four clean sheets in their last five matches, suggests they will be difficult to break down. St Polten, on the other hand, will need to pull off something special to secure a positive result.
Final Prediction: St Polten Women 0-2 Manchester City Women
As the match approaches, fans can expect an intense battle on the pitch, with both teams eager to secure crucial points in their quest for knockout stage qualification. With City’s attacking flair and St Polten’s determination, this encounter is set to be a memorable one in the Women’s Champions League calendar.