WHEN AND WHERE
Our 2020/21 FA Women’s Super League opener will take place at Villa Park, kicking off at 2:30pm (UK) on Saturday 5 September.
In the UK, the game will be broadcast live on BT Sport (also via their YouTube, Facebook or Twitter channels - or City’s Facebook page) !while fans in other countries can tune in via the FA Player or via the broadcaster channels below, courtesy of LiveSoccerTV:
| Denmark | Viaplay Denmark, TV3 MAX |
| Finland | Viaplay Finland, V Sport Urheilu |
| Germany | DAZN |
| International | The FA Player |
| Ireland | BTSport.com, BT Sport 2, BT Sport App |
| Israel | Sport 2 |
| Italy | DAZN |
| Norway | Viaplay Norway, V Sport 2 |
| Sweden | Viaplay Sweden |
| United Kingdom | BT Sport 2, BT Sport App, BTSport.com |
| United States | NBC Sports App, NBCSports.com |
You can also follow all the action on our dedicated matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen. We will also have a full report plus all the post-match reaction on mancity.com
SHOP | Our Women’s training wear range
It’s Villa’s first game back in the FA Women’s Super League following their promotion from the Championship last term.
Rules
For safety reasons in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.
In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.
Gareth Taylor preview
“It’s another good game. We’re really looking forward to it.
“We’ve got plenty of things to work on (after last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea) but we have to dust ourselves off and go again.
“We’ll remain level, we’ll keep working day in day out and continue looking forward to our objectives this season.”
Chloe Kelly preview
“We can’t wait to get the league season started. Pre-season is great but you want that competitive side of the game; you want to show what you’re capable of.
“Villa are a tough team. It was hard to break them down but it’s about being patient against those teams – waiting for the moment rather than trying something spectacular.
“They’re newly-promoted so they’ll have a bit of fight in them.
“It’s very important to start the season with a win. It sets the tone for the rest of the season and sets us on the right foot.
“Hopefully, we can go there and get three points with a good performance.”
Opposition view: Marisa Ewers
“Man City at Villa Park – what an opener for us.
“Being on national TV as well, is a great start for us, very exciting and a great opportunity that we’ll be playing at Villa Park.
“Playing City in the first game of the season will be a tough challenge but I think we’re ready for that.
“We want that kind of challenge now and that competition. In this league, every week you have to be at that level now, you have to compete against that level, I think it’s great for us to get up there as quickly as possible.
“And give our best and see what we can get out of this game.”
Last time out
City suffered a frustrating 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in last weekend’s FA Women’s Community Shield encounter at Wembley.
Last meeting
City last played Aston Villa in December 2018 in a Continental Cup group clash in the Midlands.
We ran out 4-0 victors on that occasion with Lauren Hemp registering her first Manchester City goal alongside headers from Gemma Bonner and Janine Beckie, with Jess Park also on the mark.
