There could be a swathe on international stars stepping out onto the Etihad Stadium pitch when Manchester City welcome Spurs in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
In the first of three WSL clashes to be held at the Etihad this term, Gareth Taylor’s side host the Londoners on Friday 8 November at 19:30 (UK).
It will represent our second domestic outing since October’s international break, with players from both the Blues and Robert Vilahamn’s team returning after playing for their nations.
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And those figures could be central to the key battles at the Etihad Stadium as both teams vie for three precious points in Manchester.
It all points towards an enthralling evening at the Etihad Stadium – and tickets to the clash can be purchased here.
Read below to find out which international colleagues could be putting national loyalties aside in the pursuit of victory in less than a week’s time.
ENGLAND
Sarina Wiegman selected a total of five players across City and Tottenham Hotspur’s squads for England’s matches with Germany and South Africa.
Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Jess Park were picked from the Blues, while exciting forward Jess Naz was included from Vilahamn’s team.
So far across the 2024/25 domestic season, the latter has scored twice in all competitions and assisted Leah Williamson’s goal in their 2-1 win over South Africa.
Greenwood and the rest of our defence will need to be at our best to nullify Naz’s threat at the Etihad Stadium.
AUSTRALIA
There was certainly a City and Spurs-centric feel across Australia’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland and 2-1 win over Germany across the pause in domestic action.
The Blues’ Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler and the Londoners’ Clare Hunt started both fixtures, meanwhile Vilahamn’s team’s Charlotte Grant was an unused substitute across the double header.
Following the draw with Switzerland, centre-back Hunt netted against Germany in a memorable win for the Matildas which proved to be the decisive goal on 77 minutes after Kyra Cooney-Cross cancelled out Selina Cerci’s opener.
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Her goal against Christian Wuck’s team will undoubtedly provide a confidence boost ahead of what is set to be an intriguing battle between Hunt and Fowler when City look to break forward and cause problems for Spurs’ defence.
And although former City winger Hayley Raso was absent for Australia, the Blues are all too aware of her threat and the problems she could cause at the Etihad.
JAMAICA
A duel which has already been on show across City’s past meetings with Spurs is between Jamaican team-mates Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
The Blues’ striker scored a sublime first-half hat-trick against her international colleague in Gareth Taylor’s side’s emphatic 7-0 WSL success at the Joie Stadium last term.
Spencer does have one clean sheet to her name so far this term, however, and will be aiming to keep Bunny quiet and off the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium.
Jamaica played just once across the international break – losing 3-0 to France with Shaw not involved.
YOUNG LIONESSES
Not only will established international stars be in action at the Etihad, but those with sparkling potential could also play a crucial role in the clash.
England Under-23s duo Laura Blindkilde Brown (City) and Lenna Gunning-Williams (Spurs) both featured for their country’s youth team in a 1-0 win over Portugal thanks to Michelle Agyemang’s winner.
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That followed a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands U23 where the Blues’ midfielder played the full 90 minutes.
AROUND THE WORLD
There are also a number of players from both teams who are returning buoyed from the international break and will be looking to make their mark at the Etihad Stadium.
Jill Roord’s remarkable form since returning from an ACL injury continued as she scored twice for the Netherlands in their remarkable 15-0 win over Indonesia.
And exciting Japanese forward Aoba Fujino bagged for her nation in their 4-0 win over South Korea and played alongside Club colleagues Yui Hasegawa and Ayaka Yamashita.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ Martha Thomas scored in back-to-back matches for Scotland and Amanda Nilden registered an assist for Sweden in their 4-0 win over Luxembourg.
To see these international stars and more, click here to buy tickets to City v Spurs.
