Manchester City’s bid to reach the 2022/23 Champions League group stages gets underway on Thursday as they face Tomiris Turan in a one-legged qualifying semi-final.
Having been embroiled in a European battle with rivals Manchester United over the course of the campaign, City sealed their Champions League place on the final day of last term after finishing third in the WSL,
They face Kazakhstan outfit and Champions League debutants Tomiris-Turan, who finished second in their domestic league last season to secure their European spot.
Thursday evening’s victor will face the winner of Real Madrid vs Sturm Graz on Sunday in a bid to progress to a further two-legged qualifying match in September.
When is kick off? Thursday 18 August, 20:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Campo 11, Real Madrid training complex
TV channel/livestream? City+, Recast
Manchester City will be without Ellen White, who has been given an extended period of leave due to personal reasons. Ruby Mace is also unavailable, having picked up an injury while on England Under 19 duty this summer.
Steph Houghton and Esme Morgan are available once more, having both sat out the majority of the 2021/22 season – the former with an Achilles injury and the latter with a broken leg.
(4-3-3): Roebuck; Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Walsh, Losada, Coombs; Kelly, Shaw, Hemp
Although this is Manchester City’s first game of their season, while Tomiris-Turan are currently midway through their domestic league campaign, City will be expected to progress comfortably against the team from Kazakhstan.
Tomiris-Turan are relative newcomers to elite women’s football, with Thursday marking their maiden Champions League appearance.
City meanwhile have bolstered their squad this summer with seasoned internationals like Leila Ouahabi and exciting young talent like Kerstin Casparij, in addition to boasting seven members of England’s Euro 2022 winning squad.
Should they progress, a tougher test should await City on Sunday, where they could face Real Madrid – the side who eliminated them from last season’s competition.
Prediction: Manchester City 5-0 Tomiris-Turan
