Preview: Manchester City Women vs. Bristol City Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The Robins, meanwhile, are still searching for their first points of the season after losing their opening two Women's Super League matches.

Match preview

After missing out on Champions League qualification last term, Man City have seemingly used that disappointment as motivation for the opening two league matches of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Citizens began their campaign with a 2-0 away win over West Ham United, before they produced a battling display in last weekend's home meeting with reigning WSL champions Chelsea.

Man City were in control of proceedings following Chloe Kelly's early opener, but the contest turned on its head when Alex Greenwood received a second yellow card in the 38th minute.

While Gareth Taylor's side showed great determination to keep Chelsea at bay, their task became all the more difficult when Lauren Hemp received her marching orders in the final 10 minutes, and it ultimately led to their resistance being broken by Guro Reiten in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Nine-player Man City may have been denied maximum points last Sunday, but they managed to return to winning ways in midweek, as goals from Jess Park and Bunny Shaw guided them to a 2-1 away victory over Bristol City in the League Cup.

The Citizens will not turn their focus to Sunday's meeting at the Joie Stadium, where they will have the chance to extend their unbeaten home run in the WSL to 21 matches.

Bristol City have found it tough going in their first two WSL games since winning promotion from the Championship last term.

After losing 4-2 at home to Leicester City on the opening day of the season, the Robins fell to another defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Amalie Thestrup pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after the Robins conceded three first-half goals, but they were unable to mount a late comeback, ensuring the contest finished in a disappointing 3-1 defeat.

Bristol City would have also been frustrated with Wednesday's League Cup meeting with Southampton, which resulted in a 1-1 draw, before the Saints won the subsequent penalty shootout to claim the bonus point.

Although Bristol City will be determined to pick up a positive result, they will have their work cut out against Man City after losing 8-1 and 6-0 when they met the Citizens in the FA Cup and League Cup respectively during the 2022-23 season.

Manchester City Women Women's Super League form:

W

D

Manchester City Women form (all competition):

Bristol City Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

Bristol City Women form (all competitions):

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Team News

Demi Stokes remains sidelined for the hosts, while Leila Ouahabi will serve the final game of her three-match suspension.

After serving their respective one-match bans in midweek, Greenwood and Hemp will return to the lineup this weekend.

Shaw, who made her first start of the season on Wednesday, is expected to feature in a front three alongside Kelly and Hemp.

As for the Robins, Lauren Smith has confirmed that goalkeeper Fran Bentley is likely to miss the next few weeks with an injury.

Forward Abi Harrison remains unavailable for the visitors, while defender Jess Simpson is unlikely to be involved.

Having scored in Bristol City's opening two league games, Thestrup will look to continue her impressive start to the season when she features up front on Sunday.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:

Keating; Morgan, Kennedy, Greenwood, Aleixandri; Angeldahl, Hasegawa, Roord; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw

Bristol City Women possible starting lineup:

Marckese; Powell, Aspin, Murray, Layzell; Napier, Morgan, Rodgers, Connolly, Jones; Thestrup

We say: Manchester City Women 4-0 Bristol City Women

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