Preview: Reading Women vs. Chelsea Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The Royals, meanwhile, will need to pull off a surprise result if they are to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Match preview

With Reading currently three points above the relegation place in the Women's Super League table, the FA Cup has proven to be a welcome distraction for Kelly Chambers's side.

Although the Royals are yet to win an FA Cup game in regulation time this season, they have managed to claw their way to the last eight.

Their fourth-round tie with Leicester City finished in a 2-2 draw after extra time, but the Royals kept their composure from 12 yards to advance thanks to a 3-2 penalty shootout win.

They repeated the feat in the fifth round against Tottenham Hotspur, prevailing 5-4 on penalties after playing out a goalless draw.

The Royals face a difficult test on Sunday, but they can draw inspiration from the 1-0 victory they recorded in their most recent home meeting with Chelsea in December 2021.

Since losing to Arsenal in the League Cup final, Chelsea have bounced back with consecutive league victories.

After beating Brighton & Hove Albion, the Blues claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over title rivals Manchester United last weekend, thanks to a sublime strike from Sam Kerr.

The result moves Emma Hayes's side to the top of the WSL table, but they will now turn their attention to Sunday's FA Cup tie, as they look to keep their hopes alive of winning the trophy for a third consecutive season.

Chelsea began their FA Cup campaign with a 3-2 victory over Liverpool before goals from Sophie Ingle and Kerr guided them to a 2-0 win over Arsenal, securing them a place in the quarter-finals.

The Blues have only lost one away game this season - a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on the opening day of the season - and they will have the chance to extend their unbeaten away run to 12 competitive games on Sunday.

Reading Women Women's FA Cup form:

Reading Women form (all competitions):

Chelsea Women Women's FA Cup form:

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Long-term injury absentee Deanne Rose stepped up her recovery this week by taking part in pitch-based work, but the Reading defender is still some way off from returning to competitive action.

After coming off the bench in the second half last weekend, Lily Woodham could be brought into the side for Sunday's cup tie.

Chambers is also expected to persist with a front three made up of Charlie Wellings, Emma Harries and Rachel Rowe.

As for the visitors, they are still without the injured trio of Pernille Harder, Katerina Svitkova and Fran Kirby.

Erin Cuthbert is a doubt after missing last weekend's victory with a hamstring injury, and with Chelsea set to face Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, the Scotland international may not be risked against Reading.

Guro Reiten was also absent from the win over United due to a sickness bug, but she is expected to be involved on Sunday.

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Moloney; Mayi Kith, Evans, Mukandi; Woodham, Moore, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland; Wellings, Harries, Rowe

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Bright, Eriksson, Charles; Leupolz, Ingle; James, Fleming, Reiten; Kerr

We say: Reading Women 1-3 Chelsea Women

The Blues claimed a narrow 3-2 victory when the two sides met in December, and although we expect Reading to be competitive once again, we think Chelsea's quality will shine through in the end.

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