March 2025: The Month of Manchester City vs Chelsea
- Millie Winslett
- Mar 28
- 4 min read
As March comes to end, it is time to look back on the fixture that occurred four times during this four-week period.
Manchester City and Chelsea faced each other on four different occasions for three different competitions: the Subway Women’s League Cup, the WSL and then two legs of the Women’s Champions League.
Subway Women's League Cup Final
The first of the four fixtures was the League cup final that took place on the 15th of March at Derby’s Pride Park stadium. Chelsea took the first victory of the four with a 2-1 win. However it was a very close game throughout, taking an own goal to secure the first trophy for Bompastor’s Blues.
Chelsea took the lead very early on, with an 8th minute strike from Mayra Ramirez. A clear stand out in the 90 minutes and clinical in her opening goal as well nearly netting a second close to half-time.
Another stand out player key to Chelsea’s victory is their number 8, Erin Cuthbert. The midfielder is pivotal in the Blue’s success with her control being the driving force between the attack and defence. An arguable greatest moment coming from an incredible pass to Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd in the second half forcing Yamashita to make the save.
Despite their triumph, credit is due to the opponent that very much kept themselves in the competition to the very end. A key player for Manchester City must be goal scorer Aoba Fujino who was a clear spark for City throughout and being BBC Sport’s highest rate player out of each team speaks volumes on her performance.
Women’s Champions League
The next fixture of the four was Manchester City’s home leg of the Women’s Champions League that took place, only four days after the League Cup final, on the 19th of March.
This game took a very different turn to the previous, with Manchester City ending Chelsea’s 31-game unbeaten streak.
An undeniable star had to be second half substitute, Vivianne Miedema. Opening the score sheet in the 60th minute and then netting a second securing the win. A ruthless performance earned the summer-signing player of the match.
A player that went under the radar, but still deserves her flowers is Manchester City’s Mary Fowler. Despite getting substituted midway through the second half, Fowler still had a great impact on her team, with 100% shot accuracy and accurate long balls placed into the box. A stand-out moment was her composure after hitting the crossbar moments before Miedema’s first goal.
Despite their defeat, a special mention to Hannah Hampton is needed with a few world-class saves, she kept Chelsea in the game even with a rocky defence.
The second leg to this fixture took place just a week later and what a plot twist it created. Going into the game 2-0 down on aggregate, Chelsea went in fighting proving their unbeatable winning mentality.
An amazing performance from Chelsea’s number 10, Lauren James, is worth noting. With an 80% pass accuracy and four out of six duels won, eventually earning an assist, James created the most chances in the match. Winning UEFA's player of the match, Lauren James was a star on the Stamford Bridge stage.
Another stand-out player for the Blues was defender Nathalie Björn. Not only did a header from the number 14 draw Chelsea level, she put in a shift in the defence with eight clearances, eight recoveries and eight out of nine duels won; Björn was a powerhouse at the Bridge.
Women’s Super League
The two legs of the Champions League were separated by Manchester City’s home game in the WSL that took place on the 23rd of March.
Earlier in the season, Manchester City travelled to Stamford Bridge where they lost 2-0, due to goals from Guro Reiten and Mayra Ramirez wanting revenge to earn their top three spot and, coming off the back of a win, its clear Manchester City were coming into this game confident.
Manchester City’s confidence paid off as they took the lead in the 32nd minute. A clean strike from Kerolin slotted straight past Hannah Hampton. Alongside her assister Yui Hasegawa, the two kept City’s attack alive.
However, the star of Manchester City was Khiara Keating who took over from Yamashita after injury ruled her out. Keating made incredible stops keeping City in the game and only allowing Chelsea two of their 28 shots in the game.
However, the difference for Chelsea allowing their unbeaten streak in the WSL to reign were Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert. Rytting-Kaneryd had an incredible game with her assist to Aggie Beever-Jones being a highlight as she ran through the entire City defence before crossing to the striker. Creating eight chances in the game, the Chelsea number 19 kept the attack alive.
The saviour for the Blues, Erin Cuthbert, proved her world-class quality after coming off the bench. The midfielder made an instant impact on the game and scoring in the 90th minute, made her Chelsea’s hero.
Whilst Chelsea’s all competition unbeaten streak came to an end, they still left March with a lot to be proud of.
Unbeaten in the WSL sitting eight points clear at the top of the table, with the title in reaching distance, as we approach the business end of the season. A league cup trophy, their first since 2021, and Bompastor’s first as manager. And Champions League semi-finalists, taking on Barcelona for the third consecutive year.
Chelsea’s quadruple dreams are still on, can anyone stop the Blues?
Comments