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.
A derby victory would do just that and, with the squad's preparations for the clash now ramping up, here is everything you need to know...
United Women have historically been well backed in games away to City, and that is set to continue this weekend, with our travelling allocation of more than 3,000 tickets sold out.
For those not heading over to the Etihad Stadium, the game will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, while we’ll have global live radio commentary on MUTV, ManUtd.com and in the United App.
You will also be able to find the team news, score updates and post-match reaction in the app and via our dedicated women’s account on X, @ManUtdWomen.
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Melvine Malard was withdrawn in the second half against PSG but Skinner suggested afterwards that the France international, who scored a brilliant goal on the night, should be okay for the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.
OPPOSITION REPORT
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 charges 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.
- United are the only side to have a 100 per cent record away from home in the Women’s Super League this season (played four, won four), and are looking to win five in a row for just the second time across a single top-flight campaign, something we previously achieved in our opening five on the road in 2020/21.
- Ella Toone has made more appearances in WSL Manchester derbies than anyone (11), while no player has been directly involved in more Manchester derby goals than Toone (five – three goals, two assists, the same as City forward Shaw).
- The Reds have scored 27 goals in our 10 away league games in 2025, the most of any team, while no side has picked up more away wins in the WSL this calendar year (seven – level with Chelsea and City).
Statistics provided by our friends at Opta.
The derby is the WSL’s only offering on Saturday, before five matches on Sunday. Chelsea, who currently sit between leaders City and third-placed United in the table, travel to Liverpool in one of three midday kick-offs, before the weekend is wrapped up with a north-London showdown between Spurs and Arsenal.
Here’s the schedule in full…
Saturday 15 November
Manchester City v UNITED (13:30)
Sunday 16 November
Aston Villa v London City (12:00)
Brighton v Leicester (12:00)
West Ham v Everton (12:00)
Liverpool v Chelsea (12:00)
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (14:30)
Kick-off times are listed in GMT.