Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women's Champions League match.
One of the most exciting ties in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals promises plenty of action from the first leg. Manchester City and Chelsea faced each other last weekend in the League Cup final, where the Londoners emerged victorious (2:1). Once again, they are expected to have the upper hand.
Manchester City (women)
At the start of the Champions League group stage, after beating Barcelona (2:0), it seemed that Manchester City had the potential to be the tournament’s biggest surprise. However, their inconsistency became evident as the competition progressed. Since 12 December, they have suffered five defeats in 15 matches across all competitions—quite a high number for a top women's club. In Saturday’s final, Manchester City generated significantly less xG than their opponents (0.88 vs 1.35), and the decisive goal was an own goal.
Chelsea (women)
It is clear that Chelsea created chances more easily with their star striker Sam Kerr in the line-up, but now their attacking play revolves around the Catarina Macario–Lauren James partnership. Over the last 10 away matches, Chelsea have won eight times (without a single slip-up), scoring fewer than two goals on just two occasions. In the Women’s Super League, they have built a comfortable eight-point lead over Arsenal, allowing them to focus their energy on the Champions League.
Manchester City (women) vs Chelsea (women) Prediction
Over the past year, Manchester City have lost all three of their meetings with Chelsea (0:1, 0:2, and 1:2). We suggest backing the visitors with a handicap, as they may conserve energy for the return leg at home.
