Maya Cherubini’s strike for the Serie A outfit looked like it had earned the hosts a win on a muggy night in Florence as Andrée Jeglertz’s side took the field for the first time in over two months.
As the clock ticked down, though, Lauren Hemp’s deflected effort cancelled out the hosts’ opener as honours were even on a warm Italian night.
And the test served as precious preparations against European opposition as we build towards next season and our participation in the UEFA Champions League.
WHAT HAPPENED
City faced Fiorentina at the impressive Viola Park training centre in our first pre-season assignment and maiden outing as reigning WSL and FA Cup champions.
Although the Blues were almost caught cold in the thick Italian heat when Katla Tryggvadottir tested Ayaka Yamashita early on, the visitors showed no sign of ring rust after the hosts’ early chance.
After Aoba Fujino’s close-range header was denied, Alex Greenwood retrieved the ball high up the field and fizzed it first-time off the crossbar from all of 25 yards.
Both teams were working hard in the sapping conditions, and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw – last term’s WSL Golden Boot winner – came close before the break when she bared down on goal past the Fiorentina defence but saw her effort smothered by Cecilie Fiskerstrand.
However, City were made to rue those missed opportunities on the cusp of half-time when the ball broke to Fiorentina’s Cherubini inside the area, who slammed the opener into the roof of the net.
Jeglertz made eight changes at the break which saw Niamh Charles represent the Club for the first time since her summer switch from Chelsea.
There were also appearances for Mayzee Davies, her first since returning from a knee injury, and Sacha Lewis fresh from penning a professional contract four days before.
As the closing stages developed, the energy levels dropped slightly, and the hosts hit the woodwork when Emma Lombardi’s attempt took a deflection.
City also had Eartha Cumings’ heroics to thank for keeping us in the match when she produced a superb double save late on.
But the Blues showed the desire to fight until the end, which was a common theme of the double-winning campaign last term, when Lauren Hemp cut onto her left foot and saw her effort loop into the net on 88 minutes.
It was enough to see a well-contested encounter in Florence end in a draw.
VITAL MINUTES
In what was our first match since May’s FA Cup final, the matchday exposure City gained against Fiorentina will be vital for our players as we build towards the 2026/27 campaign.
Jeglertz’s side’s pre-season preparations will continue to intensify to best ensure we’re ready for our WSL opener against Birmingham on Saturday 5 September and the challenges that lye ahead.
And by testing ourselves against the Serie A outfit in Italy, it gave us a taste what could be in store in the Champions League next term.
NEW FACES
City’s trip to Italy also provided a number of our Next Gen and Academy cohort senior experience for the first time.
Sacha Lewis, Freya Hirons, Sienna Davis and Millie Burdon all featured against the Serie A outfit following our maiden PGA U21 campaign last term.
Charles’ introduction in sky blue since she joined from Chelsea this summer and Mayzee Davies’ return from injury were also real positives for Jeglertz’s side.
HOW WE LINED UP
City XI: Yamashita (Cumings 46’), Shimizu (Casparij 46’ C), Prior (Rose 46’), Knaak (Davies 46’), Greenwood (C) (Charles 62’), Blindkilde Brown (Coffey 62’), Hasegawa (Burdon 62’), Clinton (Lewis 62’), Fujino, (Davis 46’) Fowler (Hemp 46’), Shaw (Hirons 46’).
Unused substitutes: Walker, O’Donnell, Burton.
Fiorentina XI: Fiskerstrand, Bergsvand, Correia, Van Der Zanden, Johansen, Cherubini, Severini, Faerge, Tryggvadottir, Snerle, Cerrato.
Substitutes: Lombardi, Filangeri, Bettineschi, Orsi, Bartalini, Andreoni, Baccaro, Benedettini, De Gregorio, Mailia.
UP NEXT
City’s next pre-season fixture is a meeting with FC Barcelona at the Joie Stadium on Saturday 15 August, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 (UK).
Tickets for the friendly are available to purchase here!
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