Continental Cup final: Who will win the first silverware of the season?

Photo: Tom Flathers/Man City via Getty Images

The top two sides in the WSL, Manchester City and Arsenal, will go head to head for the Continental Cup on Saturday.

Arsenal will face Man City at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane as the two sides compete to win the first silverware of the 2018/19 season.

The Continental Cup has been in existence for eight years and interestingly has only been won by Arsenal and Man City. The Gunners are the current holders and also won the competition in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. City won it on the other two occasions in 2014 and 2016.

This will be a repeat of last season’s final which Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a goal from this season’s WSL top scorer Vivianne Miedema. Man City beat Arsenal 1-0 to win the trophy in 2014. Isobel Christiansen, now of Lyon, scored the winner on that occasion.

Photo: Arsenal Core

Road to the final

Arsenal finished top of Group Two South after winning all four of their games against West Ham, Charlton, Lewes and Millwall, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two.

The Gunners subsequently overcame a challenging quarter-final against Birmingham, mounting a late comeback and progressing due to a stoppage-time Vivianne Miedema goal to win 2-1.

Manchester United were Arsenal’s opponents in the semi-finals. They overcame Casey Stoney’s side with goals from Miedema in each half to win 2-1 and join Man City in the final.

Manchester City topped Group One North with victories over Leicester City, Bristol City, Sheffield United and Aston Villa. Their first game against Birmingham City ended goalless but they won 5-4 on penalties.

City thrashed Brighton 7-1 in the quarter-finals before beating WSL title-rivals Chelsea 2-0 to book their place in the final. The goal City conceded against Brighton was the only one they have let in during the competition so far.

Prediction

Arsenal have faltered in recent weeks and don’t look like the free-flowing team they were earlier on in the season, although this is partially down to injuries. Man City are top of the WSL and will be out for revenge after losing to Arsenal in last season’s final.

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City

The match kicks off at 12:15 on Saturday 23 February and will be shown live on BT Sport 1.