This week, the footballing world turns its eyes to the Joie Stadium as Manchester City Women prepare to challenge Chelsea Women in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on March 19, 2025. This showdown follows their latest battle just days earlier, where Chelsea claimed victory over City, winning 2-1 in the League Cup final held at Pride Park.
These matches are part of an intense stretch, as the teams face each other four times within just 12 days across various competitions. Chelsea, riding high on recent success, will enter the match with confidence, bolstered by their historic unbeaten streak, which currently stands at 31 games. Should they maintain their momentum, Chelsea could set the record for the longest unbeaten run by any Women's Super League (WSL) team across all competitions, surpassing their own previous record.
Under the leadership of Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea is making strides toward their first Women’s Champions League title. Bompastor's tenure highlights her aspiration not just to win domestically but to secure European glory as well. While Chelsea celebrates their first trophy of the Bompastor era, the focus now shifts to this significant European fixture where they aim to continue their stellar form.
Manchester City, on the other hand, is coming off the disappointment of their latest defeat and is seeking to reclaim their footing. Their recent change of management, appointing Nick Cushing back to the helm, signifies a strategic move aimed at revitalizing the squad. Cushing, who previously won multiple titles with City, enters this Champions League quarter-final game against Chelsea with resilience forged from prior success.
The match promises to deliver another riveting 90 minutes, especially as both teams bring substantial firepower to the pitch. Chelsea has demonstrated their attacking prowess, spending more time leading than any other team this season—a notable 474 minutes. They have also won each of their last three competitive matches against City, which builds pressure on the Manchester squad as they strive to break their negative streak at home against Chelsea, where they have triumphed only once out of their last eight encounters (D3, L4).
City’s head-to-head record may appear worrisome, but they have the advantage of home support. Cushing’s squad boasts a perfect home record this season, winning four European matches with relative ease, securing victories by outscoring their opponents 9-0 across qualifying and group stages. This aspect gives them hope as they prepare to meet Chelsea again under the unique circumstances of the Champions League.
Analyzing recent performances, both sides have potent threats, with Chelsea’s Mayra Ramirez and Manchester City’s Aoba Fujino showing momentous form, contributing to their teams' goal-scoring efforts. Chelsea’s undefeated run, combined with the anticipation for their subsequent clash, has made them the team to watch.
Looking at player injuries, Manchester City will be without Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, both recovering from injuries, but the team’s depth may provide adequate substitutes. Chelsea, meanwhile, faces its injury concerns with several key players sidelined, like Sam Kerr, affecting roster dynamics significantly.
Opta’s computer model forecasts this encounter to be tightly contested; it currently predicts Chelsea has around 43.6% likelihood of winning against City, who hold a 56.4% chance of avoiding defeat. Against such odds, this match sets the stage for heightened tension, unpredictability, and dramatic football.
The stakes couldn’t be higher—the winner of this two-legged tie will advance closer to European glory, something both teams desperately covet. With emotions running high after recent encounters and both teams equipped for battle, spectators can expect another thrilling chapter of Women’s Champions League football when Chelsea and Manchester City meet at the Joie Stadium.
