A 7pm GMT kick-off in Burton, the Midlands rivals face off in the first fixture of the weekend, looking to begin the New Year with a win after differing cup fortunes...
The Foxes camp
City’s 4-0 victory over Derby County in the fourth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup has set up fifth round tie at home to Barclays Women’s Championship side Birmingham City next month.
Lena Petermann, Janice Cayman and Deanne Rose were among the goalscorers at Don Amott Arena on Sunday, as Willie Kirk’s side emerged from the winter break with a big cup success.
Attention now turns back to the WSL, with Leicester currently sitting eighth, one place and one point above Villa, ahead of this week’s encounter and are searching for a first league win in nine attempts.
Janina Leitzig is likely to return between the sticks following Lize Kop’s appearance and clean sheet in the FA Cup last weekend. The German made at least 51 more saves than any other ‘keeper in the WSL across 2023 – making 117 in total.
The opposition
Recruiting well in the summer and keeping hold of WSL Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly, there were high hopes for the Villans to potentially break into the top four this term. They have, however, struggled for form, losing their first five matches of the campaign.
Since picking up wins over Bristol City, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion to bring 2023 to a close on a positive note, the Midlands side will be aiming for more of the same in the second half of the season.
Villa were knocked out of the FA Cup by fellow WSL outfit Everton last week, beaten 3-0, but look well set to progress in the Continental Tyres League Cup, placed at the summit of Group A with one game to play.
In the dugout
Having kept Birmingham City in the WSL in 2020/21, shortlisted for WSL Manager of the Year, Carla Ward moved across the Second City to take charge of Aston Villa and guided her team to a ninth-place finish in her first season.
Another improvement last term saw Villa finish fifth and reach the FA Cup Semi-Finals, leading to Ward signing a new contract at the club. Previously manager of Sheffield United, she was in charge as the Blades moved from a fourth to second tier outfit, finishing second in the Championship in 2019/20.
Last time out
Villa have come out on top in all four previous WSL encounters, including the last clash at Pirelli Stadium, back in January 2022, when Alisha Lehmann’s stoppage-time winner saw the visitors claim a 2-1 victory.
They have a good record on the road in general, too, triumphing in seven of their last 11 league encounters away from home.
Coverage and tickets
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