Putellas Starts for London City as Women's Super League Weekend Gets Under Way
Alexia Putellas is in the London City Lionesses starting line-up for their Women's Super League match against Manchester City on Sunday. Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or, the award for the world's best female player, for a third time in the days before this weekend.
London City are now third in the top flight of England's women's game. Two and a half years ago they finished eighth in the second tier, and The Guardian's live coverage reported their rise. The club is owned by businesswoman Michele Kang, and its chief executive is Martin Semmens. The game is being played at Hayes Lane in Bromley.
Their last meeting with Manchester City was a close one. City won 2-1 in January, according to earlier coverage of the Women's Super League. London City have their own recent high point, a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in May, when Freya Godfrey scored the winner in the third minute of stoppage time, the extra minutes added at the end of a half.
Manchester City were also in form earlier in the season. They came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2 in October, keeping up a perfect start to their league campaign. Manchester City's line-up includes Yamashita, Hemp and Shaw.
Across London, Arsenal were at home to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, with the kick-off at 12.30pm. Head coach Renée Slegers made one change to her side from the midweek Champions League win, a competition that features Europe's best club teams. Leah Williamson started for Arsenal. In early October, The Guardian wrote that pressure was building on Slegers, while Putellas and Diani were among the players shining.
Arsenal have dropped points in their last two league meetings with Villa, according to the BBC. Villa, who have had a mixed season, are looking for a result that would change that run.
Elsewhere, Courtney Brosnan was in goal for Everton, who drew with Manchester United at Goodison Park. The result was reported in the same live coverage.
For neutral fans, the appeal of a Sunday like this is simple. Two clubs with different journeys are meeting in front of their own crowds, and a late goal can change how a whole afternoon feels.
