Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash between Leicester City Women and Arsenal Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After securing their spot in the Women’s Champions League main draw, Arsenal Women will turn their focus back to Women’s Super League action for Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixture against Leicester City Women.
Arsenal and Leicester both have a point to their name after drawing with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively on the opening day of the WSL season.
Match preview
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After winning promotion in 2020-21, Leicester finished in 11th position in 2021-22 before they settled for consecutive 10th-place finishes.
Having spent three years battling near the foot of the table, the Foxes will be hoping for improved fortunes in their first season under Amandine Miquel.
The Leicester boss got her tenure up and running with a 1-1 draw in last Sunday’s away clash against Liverpool, with Jutta Rantala netting a 53rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Sophie Roman Haug‘s first-half opener.
The Foxes would have been content with the point, but the result did extend their winless run to nine top-flight matches (D3, L6).
While they will be desperate to claim their first WSL win since February, Leicester know they have their work cut to take anything from Sunday’s fixture, having lost each of their previous six WSL matches against Arsenal.
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The Gunners will head into the weekend in high spirits after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Hacken in the second round of Champions League qualifying.
Arsenal may have lost 1-0 in the away leg in Sweden, but that result was put to bed in Thursday’s home leg as Lia Walti, Mariona Caldentey, Beth Mead and Frida Maanum all got on the scoresheet in a 4-0 victory.
The 2007 European champions can now look forward to returning to the Women’s Champions League main draw after they missed out on a group-stage appearance last term.
Jonas Eidevall‘s side will now turn their focus back to league action, with the Gunners looking to build their 2-2 draw against Man City which came courtesy of Mead’s 81st-minute equaliser.
The Gunners, who are unbeaten in seven league games, will have fond memories of their most recent away game against Leicester in November 2023 when they produced a free-scoring display to clinch a 6-2 victory.
Leicester City Women Women’s Super League form:
Arsenal Women Women’s Super League form:
Arsenal Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Miquel has confirmed that Leicester remain without the services of striker Lena Petermann due to a knee issue she picked up in pre-season.
Long-term absentee Hannah Cain is making progress in her recovery process, but the Wales international remains unavailable for Sunday’s home fixture.
Forward Shannon O’Brien also remains unavailable for selection as she continues to work her way back to full fitness.
As for the Gunners, captain Leah Williamson is unlikely to feature after missing the WSL opener and Thursday’s European outing due to concussion protocol.
The Gunners are also expected to be without the services of Steph Catley and Lina Hurtig, while Victoria Pelova is a long-term absentee as she continues her rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord could be recalled to the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench in midweek.
Leicester City Women possible starting lineup:
Kop; Bott, Howard, Thibaud, Cayman; Rantala, Tierney, Mace, Momiki, Goodwin; Mouchon
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Foord, Maanum, Caldentey; Russo
We say: Leicester City Women 1-3 Arsenal Women
Arsenal will be full of confidence after sweeping past Hacken in midweek, and we think they will produce another commanding display to maintain their 100% record in head-to-head meetings with Leicester.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.