Chelsea Women shift their focus to finishing the Women’s Super League (WSL) on a high as Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge for the final match of the 2025/26 season.
- Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the WSL season finale, aiming for a second-place finish.
- Both teams look to bounce back from recent form, with Chelsea eying a strong finish under Sonia Bompastor.
- Key players Alyssa Thompson and Jess Park are fit to feature, while both squads face defensive injuries.
Here everything you need to know.
How to Watch
If you aren’t one of the 30,000 fans expected at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, there are plenty of ways to catch the action live from home.
UK TV and streaming coverage: In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights to this fixture.
- TV Channels: The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ channel
- Kickoff & Build-up: While the game kicks off at 1:00 PM BST, the build-up begins an hour earlier at 12:00 PM. This hour-long pre-match show will include tactical breakdowns, team news, and exclusive interviews from pitchside at Stamford Bridge
Recent Form
Chelsea Women: Chelsea Women head into the final match of the season looking to bounce back from a recent defeat. They were knocked out in the FA Cup semi-finals by title rivals Manchester City, who secured a 3-2 victory with a winner in extra time.
Prior to that loss, Chelsea had put together a strong run of form, defeating Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park before traveling to the King Power Stadium to beat relegated Leicester City 3-1.
Chelsea Women Manager Sonia Bompastor spoke on their recent defeats saying, “When you lose games like that, it affects your confidence… but also when you play for Chelsea, players, manager, you need to find a way to bounce back.”
Manchester United Women: The visitors aren’t having the best run of games. In their most recent match, they drew 1-1 against Brighton and Hove Albion, getting a last-minute equaliser scored by Lea Schuller.
They also drew 0-0 to North London side, Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites held control in most of the match with 58% possession and 22 shots, but the Red Devils held on.
Ones to Watch
Chelsea Women: Alyssa Thompson has been on fire this season, scoring 7 in the League. She is known for her electric pace and her fearlessness in attacking defenders.
She’s a reliable goal scorer, being in the right place at the right time, putting the Blues ahead when needed. During this match, look for her on the left, losing her defender, or up top, sending in close-range finishes.
Manchester United Women: One to watch for Manchester United would be Jess Park. Coming in at the start of the season from rivals Manchester City, she’s really found her place on the pitch.
She has recorded 6 goals and 5 assists in the WSL alone this season and averages an 83.3% passing accuracy. During this match, look for her in the pockets of space; she’s likely the one dictating the tempo.
Injuries and Suspension
Chelsea Women: Nathalie Bjorn’s season came to an end in the League Cup final. After just three minutes on the pitch, she injured her calf once again.
She is a versatile player, being able to play as a centre-back, right-back, or even as a holding midfielder. Björn is also comfortable on the ball, excelling in long-range passing and switching the play, helping Chelsea stretch opposition defences.
The defensive unit faces a major transition following the retirement of captain Millie Bright at the end of April. Bright’s physical dominance and aerial presence were foundational to the backline, and her departure leaves both a tactical void and a leadership gap.
In her absence, senior figures like Erin Cuthbert and Keira Walsh have been tasked with stepping up to guide the squad.
Compounding these leadership changes, Chelsea is also dealing with the absence of Naomi Girma due to a calf injury. Girma is central to the team’s build-up play, frequently executing line-breaking passes that transition the team from defence to attack.
Furthermore, her athleticism and recovery pace allow Chelsea to comfortably deploy a high defensive line, making her injury a significant tactical hurdle ahead of the final match.
Manchester United Women: Leah Galton will still be missing from the Manchester United side after injuring her back. Her top crossing and final-third delivery are essential to strikers in front of goal. She also provides significant cover for her fullback, helping to double-up on dangerous opposition wingers.
Manchester United are expected to receive a major selection boost. Both Dominique Janssen and Elisabeth Terland are firmly on track to return to the Red Devils’ starting eleven for the upcoming fixture.
Managers thoughts
Chelsea Women Manager: Sonia Bompastor, talked about finishing the season strongly, “I think it’s an important game for us. We can still play for the second place in the league, and I think we want to finish on a high… we want to make sure we finish with a win.”
Bompastor also spoke on Manchester United as a side, saying, “They [Manchester United] will do their best, and they have quality in the squad… but we also have a lot of quality in our squad, and we want to make sure we give for the last game everything we had.”
Manchester United Manager: Manchester United manager Marc Skinner made it unequivocally clear that his squad will not be treating the final match of the campaign as a meaningless fixture. Despite the team having no silverware or European spots left to contest, Skinner emphasised that the standards and expectations of representing the club remain as high as ever.
Addressing the media about the challenge of motivating a side with seemingly nothing left to play for on paper, Skinner firmly rejected any notion of complacency:
“I won’t allow a Manchester United team to go out and think, oh, there’s nothing on the game. We’re playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and we have to as a team go into this game to try and get the three points.”
With a high-stakes clash against a fierce rival awaiting them in London, Skinner’s comments serve as a fierce rallying cry.
He is demanding complete focus and competitive drive from his players, ensuring they approach the match with the tactical discipline and intensity required to silence the Stamford Bridge crowd and finish their season on a high note.
