Aston Villa welcome defending [Women’s Super League](https://womenfootball.blog/womens-super-league-table-standings/) champions Manchester City to Villa Park on Sunday after making an encouraging start to the new season.
Villa earned a 1–1 draw away to Chelsea on opening weekend, while City beat Birmingham City 3–1 after being held scoreless during the first half.
There is also recent encouragement for Villa in this fixture. They held City to a 0–0 draw at Villa Park last season, and Andrée Jeglertz expects another difficult test on Sunday.
**Competition:** Women’s Super League
**Date:** Sunday, 13 September 2026
**Kick-off:** 18:30 BST / 19:30 CEST
**Venue:** Villa Park
**TV:** Sky Sports
Aston Villa against Manchester City will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. Kick-off is at **18:30 BST**, which is **19:30 CEST** in the Netherlands and much of central Europe. Are you watching from outside the UK? Try the [Barclays WSL Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUlR9-dLEYQ) or W-Sport
For the complete Matchweek 2 schedule and latest broadcast information, see our **Where to Watch the Women’s Super League 2026/27** guide.
Aston Villa will be without Oriane Jean-François. The rest of Natalia Arroyo’s squad remains the same as the group available for the 1–1 draw against Chelsea. Villa’s other existing absentees are progressing towards their returns but are not yet ready to come back into the squad.
That should allow Arroyo to retain much of the team that performed well at Stamford Bridge.
Mana Okuma started in goal against Chelsea, with Lucy Parker, Lynn Wilms, Sara Hørte Harviken and Paula Tomás among Villa’s defensive options. Captain Missy Bo Kearns and Justine Kielland featured in midfield, while Noa Vangsgaard led the attack.
**Predicted Aston Villa XI:**
Okuma; Parker, Wilms, Harviken, Tomás; Kielland, Kearns; Grant, Hijikata, McAulay; Vangsgaard.
Grace Clinton is expected to return to the Manchester City squad after missing the opening victory over Birmingham. Jeglertz said he hopes the England international will be available for selection at Villa Park. Sydney Lohmann remains sidelined through injury.
The City head coach also confirmed that his midfield choices against Birmingham were tactical rather than the result of additional injuries.
City struggled to break down Birmingham during the opening 45 minutes before Mary Fowler scored shortly after half-time. Khadija Shaw then added two headers from corners to secure the 3–1 victory.
Jeglertz has suggested he could use a different midfield combination against Villa, although Clinton’s expected return does not necessarily mean she will immediately start.
**Predicted Manchester City XI:**
Yamashita; Casparij, Layzell, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Wamser; Mead, Miedema, Fowler; Shaw.
Last season’s 0–0 at Villa Park gives Villa a useful reference point. Jeglertz admitted City were not good enough in that game and expects Villa’s coaching staff to again make things difficult. Villa’s performance at Chelsea last weekend strengthens that argument: Arroyo’s side have already shown they can compete with one of the WSL’s leading teams.
City nevertheless demonstrated against Birmingham how quickly a difficult game can change.
Once Fowler found the breakthrough, the champions took control, while Shaw’s two goals from corners highlighted the threat Villa will have to manage from set pieces.
Villa cannot simply focus on Shaw. Fowler, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead give City several routes to goal, and Clinton’s expected return increases Jeglertz’s midfield options.
For Villa, the key will be combining defensive organisation with enough threat of their own to prevent City from spending the entire game around the home penalty area.
Villa’s draw at Chelsea and last season’s 0–0 in this fixture suggest City could face another difficult evening at Villa Park. The champions have more attacking options, however, and Shaw has already started the season with two goals.
**Prediction: Aston Villa 1–2 Manchester City**