Manchester United are back in Barclays Women’s Super League action on Friday (28 April) as we take on Aston Villa at the Bescot Stadium.
The Reds secured a tight 1-0 victory over Arsenal last week in a key game in the title race, but attention now turns to the game against Villa, who have impressed this season and currently sit fifth in the table.
Three points clear at the summit, United go into the game knowing that every win counts, with the games becoming fewer as we get towards the end of the season.
Ahead of our clash with the Villans, here's everything you need to know about the two sides and how you can follow the action...
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE GAME?
The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:15 BST at the Bescot Stadium. Fans in the UK can watch the game on BBC Three, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport, while The FA Player is also streaming the game.
In the United App we will be publishing updates, with a report and reaction available following the final whistle. You can also follow the action during the 90 minutes via our designated Twitter account, @ManUtdWomen.
WHAT’S THE TEAM NEWS?
Norwegian duo Lisa Naalsund and Maria Thorisdottir will not be available for the visit to Villa on Friday. While the latter has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Marc Skinner says Maria is doing her rehabilitation ‘with a smile on her face'.
Naalsund is back on the grass doing light training and Skinner confirmed this week in his pre-match press conference he is hopeful she may be back in training ahead of the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday 14 May.
Canada international Jayde Riviere, who was one of three recruits in the winter transfer window, has been named in consecutive matchday squads and could be on course for her first minutes as a Red on Friday.
MARC SKINNER SAYS…
“We have had a little bit more prep time for this game. We came straight off the international break into Brighton and then Arsenal so it is needed. I think we will be playing the pitch as well, I think Villa have mastered that pitch very well. There are some slight adaptations in how we think we can exploit Villa but we also know that we have to be at our very best to stop them scoring. They are free-flowing so we have to try and stop that. We have been pretty good at that this year so I hope that we continue to do the same.”
FORM GUIDE
United are unbeaten in five games in all competitions, which includes the 1-0 win over Arsenal and the 3-2 victory in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Leigh Sports Village.
Aston Villa also made it to the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals but were beaten by Chelsea 1-0. Since that defeat, Carla Ward’s side came from behind to share the points with Tottenham in a 3-3 thriller at Brisbane Road. Rachel Daly scored a brace with Kirsty Hanson - on loan from United- getting the other for Villa.
LAST TIME WE MET
Manchester United Women had an afternoon to remember at Old Trafford in December, defeating Aston Villa 5-0 in front of 30,196 supporters.
Goals from Katie Zelem, Leah Galton, Alessia Russo, Ona Batlle and Rachel Williams confirmed the devastating victory, as the Reds set a new record for our women's side, attracting our biggest-ever home attendance.
STATS OF THE WEEKEND
- Aston Villa have not won any of their five WSL meetings with Manchester United (D1, L4), failing to score a single goal in this fixture; it’s the most they’ve faced any side in the competition without scoring a goal.
- Aston Villa have earned 30 points in this season’s WSL, but only 43% of those have come from home matches (13/30), the lowest ratio of any side this season.
- Manchester United are the only side with more clean sheets (12) than goals conceded (9) in the WSL this season.
- Aston Villa and Manchester United are joint-leaders for goals from high turnovers in the WSL this season with seven each.
- Manchester United midfielder Zelem has assisted seven goals from dead-ball situations this season in the WSL – no other player has registered more than two assists in this manner.
- Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly has scored 17 goals in her last 20 WSL appearances – she had five goals from 31 total appearances in the competition prior to this run.
- United’s Batlle has been involved in the most open play goal-ending sequences of any full-back in the WSL this season (11).
WHO ELSE IS PLAYING?
There are four WSL fixtures in total across this weekend, with second-placed City facing relegation-threatened Reading on Sunday.
FRIDAY 28 APRIL
Aston Villa v UNITED (19:15 BST)
SATURDAY 29 APRIL
Leicester City v Liverpool (12:30 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion (17:15 BST)
SUNDAY 30 APRIL
Manchester City v Reading (14:00 BST)