Women’s football is an underrated gem. In mere hours, two of the biggest women’s football teams, the Chelsea F.C. Women “Blues” and Manchester City W.F.C., are going to meet in Wembly Stadium. If you’re into new sportsbetting at Lottoland you already know that this match is one of the most hyped in women’s football in a while. But why is that? What made the stadium crowds break ticket sale records according to the BBC? Let’s look at these two clubs and see why they filled so many seats.
The Basics
Chelsea Football Club Women, also known as “the Blues” due to their uniforms, are based in Norbiton, England. The women’s division of Chelsea F.C. has existed since 1992 and has consistently reached high leagues, including the Premier League from 2005 to 2010. Their current rein on the cup has been compared to Arsenal—the most successful team in English women’s football.
Manchester City Women’s Football Club is slightly older; they were founded in 1988. They won the English women’s football league in 2016, and two more WSL cups before 2020. They have been considered “dominant” in English women’s football, even though they have been shaky as of late.
The shakiness comes from an unfortunate streak of injuries. In the November 2021 season, 13 players returned late from the Olympics, and 14 players have been variously unable to play. Maybe the club is due for a major comeback!
On that note…
Chelsea and Man City Have Clashed Before.
It isn’t the first time Chelsea and Man City have met on the green. They are not quite rivals, but they butt heads often enough that it may as well be the case! Out of 29 matches between them, Chelsea won 11, Man City won 10, and 8 were draws. Both have the same average points per game.
In 2014, Chelsea lost the FA Women’s Super League title to Manchester City (2–1). According to the BBC, Chelsea’s most recent loss after a 20-game streak came against City. They last met at Wimbledon’s Plough Lane on March 5, 2022, with Chelsea taking the win. This isn’t just a big football match; it’s borderline personal!
How Do They Compare?
For starters, the numbers aren’t particularly helpful. The two teams are fairly even, with Chelsea having 11 wins to City’s 10. They are both spectacular football teams with trophies under their belts as stated earlier. Of note, however, is that Man City had significantly more losses than Chelsea leading up to this match. So, what will decide who wins this match?
Chelsea is the current holder of the Women’s FA Cup. They also won both WSL meetings this season, with 4–0 away and 1–0 at home. ESPN says that they are also known for being cool-headed under pressure—a must in a high-stakes game like this! However, some commentators also think Chelsea might be out for revenge, so it’s hard to say if they will keep their cool.
Meanwhile, Man City has had many of its players injured during the past year. But if Man City W.F.C. was fully prepared, it could easily give Chelsea a run for its money. Some sports channels think Manchester City W.F.C. is fit enough to pull off a win, and they need it. Winning here would be considered a revival.
Both Chelsea and Man City are set on winning their fourth FA Cup. Both sides have solid domestic records. If Chelsea wins, they will have asserted their dominance over women’s football; if Man City wins, it would mean that they have fully recovered. Predictions go both ways; ESPN in particular seems to favor Chelsea. This will be a game for the ages!
Conclusion
Both Chelsea and Man City women’s football teams are worth watching. While they don’t have a rivalry per se, they both have a stunning number of trophies and have clashed more than once. With one team at full strength and the other probably recovered, both teams are set to take the other on. No wonder this match has a record number of tickets sold! If you’re into women’s football, you’re probably in for a treat! And if you were one of the over 50,000 people who got into the stadium, we hope you have fun and congratulate you on helping set a world record.