Aston Villa Women return to Villa Park on Sunday looking to build on an impressive opening-day point against Chelsea.
Natalia Arroyo’s heavily rebuilt side earned a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge despite spending long periods under pressure.
Manchester City provide another formidable test after beginning their Women’s Super League title defence with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City.
Arroyo therefore has an interesting decision to make.
Does she reward the XI which frustrated Chelsea, or introduce more attacking pace for Villa’s first home league game of the season?
Here is how we think Aston Villa Women could line up.
Aston Villa Women predicted XI vs Manchester City
Predicted Aston Villa Women XI: Okuma; Wilms, Parker, Harviken, Maritz; Kielland, Kendall; Grant, Hijikata, Murphy; Vangsgaard.
The easiest decision comes in goal.
Akane Okuma should retain her place after producing an outstanding WSL debut against Chelsea.
The Japan international made nine saves as Villa secured their first-ever league point against the champions, earning a 9.5/10 in our Aston Villa Women player ratings from Stamford Bridge.
The Guardian also highlighted Okuma’s importance after Chelsea generated more than three expected goals but found a way past the goalkeeper only once.
There appears little reason for Arroyo to change the defensive core in front of her either.
Lynn Wilms and Noelle Maritz were particularly influential in Villa’s equaliser, while Lucy Parker and summer arrival Mathilde Harviken helped withstand sustained Chelsea pressure.
That defensive resilience could be needed again.
City opened their season with a 3-1 win over Birmingham, with Manchester City’s official match report confirming Bunny Shaw scored twice and Mary Fowler also found the net.
Could Lily Murphy start against parent club Man City?
Midfield is another area where continuity makes sense.
Justine Kielland worked tirelessly without the ball against Chelsea, while Lucia Kendall captained Arroyo’s new-look side.
The bigger question comes further forward.
Amalie Vangsgaard should continue through the middle after making her competitive Villa debut at Stamford Bridge.
Villa brought the Denmark international in from Juventus during a summer rebuild designed partly to replace the huge attacking contribution lost when Kirsty Hanson departed, something we examined in our analysis of Aston Villa Women’s attacking rebuild.
Chasity Grant and Maya Hijikata could also retain their places.
However, Lily Murphy offers Arroyo an intriguing alternative.
The 20-year-old replaced Mia McAulay during the second half at Chelsea and could provide additional pace on Sunday.
There is also the obvious subplot of Murphy facing her parent club after joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
McAulay was given an extremely difficult assignment against Chelsea and remains a major part of Villa’s long-term plans.
But Arroyo may want a slightly different attacking threat at Villa Park.
That would make Murphy our one predicted change from the XI which started against Chelsea.
Villa face second major WSL test
Sunday represents another useful measure of how quickly Villa’s summer overhaul is coming together.
The official Manchester City preview confirms the sides last met in March, when Villa held City to a 0-0 draw.
Arroyo would surely take another positive result after beginning the season with a point at Chelsea.
The performance may need to look different, though.
Villa cannot expect Okuma to make nine saves every week.
Finding a greater attacking threat while retaining the defensive resilience shown at Stamford Bridge is therefore Arroyo’s biggest selection challenge.
Predicted Aston Villa Women XI: Okuma; Wilms, Parker, Harviken, Maritz; Kielland, Kendall; Grant, Hijikata, Murphy; Vangsgaard.
