The Women’s game takes a break from league action with the return of the FA Cup where we’re down to the final eight teams.
Six of the teams remaining are in the top flight leaving us with just two representatives left from the Championship.
Lewes v Manchester United
Lewes are seventh in the Championship and will need to beat their very best and have a bit of luck on their side to produce an upset against Manchester United.
The two sides have met twice before, during United’s maiden season in the 2018/19 Championship. The Red Devils won both encounters that time, including a 2-0 win on the road.
Marc Skinner’s team won’t need much motivation either. The disappointment of defeat against Chelsea at the weekend could mean that United are out to prove a point.
Birmingham City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Amy Merricks will still be in charge of Brighton after the strange, short reign of Jens Scheuer but there are reasons for optimism after a good performance against Manchester City at the weekend despite suffering defeat.
Curiously, Birmingham and Brighton have already faced off this season in the Conti Cup. It was the Championship side who triumphed then with Lucy Quinn scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 victory. Can Darren Carter’s team do it again in the FA Cup?
Reading v Chelsea
The Royals were powerless to resist Arsenal at the weekend and will be considered outsiders to get anything against top-of-the-league Chelsea on Sunday. However, the FA Cup has been good for Reading who have eliminated West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to get to this stage – both of which were thanks to penalty shoot-outs. If Reading can survive until then anything’s possible.
After Sam Kerr gave the Blues an important win over Manchester United, Chelsea’s big games continue with this FA Cup quarter-final before the return of the Champions League and a trip to face Lyon next week.
Emma Hayes’ side will be fully focused on this one though as they look to defend their title.
Aston Villa v Manchester City
This should be the closest contest from the quarter-finals. The much-improved Aston Villa have only lost once in 2023 – to Arsenal back in January. Meanwhile, Manchester City are picking up plenty of momentum for the final run-in. We’ll also see some of the in-form players in the English women’s game coming up against each other in Rachel Daly (five FA Cup goals) and Bunny Shaw (seven FA Cup goals).
Vill and City have already faced off twice in the WSL with the West Midlands side undefeated in both encounters. Carla Ward’s team of course won that entertaining 4-3 on the opening weekend and earned a point in a 1-1 draw in Manchester back in January.
Can City get the better of Villa this time?
Six #BarclaysWSL sides remain in the #WomensFACup!
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 16, 2023
Who do you back to go all the way? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/FS7bGtrJpy
2-1 a.e.t. | ||
Rachel Corsie 20' Rachel Daly 97' | Deyna Castellanos 38' |
