4 key battles that could decide Subway Women's League Cup final

The 2025 Subway Women's League Cup final will see the first domestic silverware of the season handed out, with Chelsea set to take on Manchester City at Pride Park in Derby.

Saturday's clash is the first of four meetings between the two teams this month, with fixtures in the Champions League (two legs) and WSL to come. Chelsea have lost each of the last three finals in this competition, including in 2022 against this weekend's opponents.

For Sonia Bompastor, who took on the role as head coach of the London club last summer, it could be her first taste of silverware in England. City, on the other hand, parted ways with Gareth Taylor earlier this week and former manager Nick Cushing has taken charge on an interim basis.

The upheaval in the dugout means it's difficult to predict exactly what team Cushing will go far, but there will no doubt be some interesting matchups across the pitch.

Here, 90min looks at the potential battles that could decide Saturday's final…

Millie Bright vs Khadija Shaw

City forward Khadija Shaw is once again in outstanding goalscoring form. The Jamaica international leads the Golden Boot charge in the WSL and will no doubt be her team's greatest threat in the box.

Millie Bright and centre-back partner Nathalie Bjorn will likely be the two tasked with keeping one of the league's most prolific goalscorers quiet. Shaw has scored in four of City's last six games across all competitions, so will be a handful for the Chelsea defence.

It is also worth noting that Bompastor's side have conceded in four of their last six matches, including two in a WSL meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month. Chelsea's defence is not infallible, which means Bright will need to be at the top of her game in order to keep Shaw at bay.

Yui Hasegawa vs Erin Cuthbert

The midfield battle is always the most crucial in fixtures of this magnitude. With two teams that like to keep possession and work to break their opponent down, control in the middle of the park will likely be decisive.

Yui Hasegawa has been at the heart of City's midfield for a number of years, so will likely be called upon by Cushing this weekend. On the opposite side, Erin Cuthbert signed a new contract with Chelsea earlier this week, keeping her at the club until the summer of 2027.

Fomer City star Keira Walsh would have been a shoe-in for this fixture, but Bompastor confirmed on Thursday that the England international is still sidelined due to injury. Therefore, it will likely be Cuthbert's responsibility to lead the way.

Cuthbert is often partnered by Wieke Kaptein, although Sjoeke Nusken is also a solid option. It is fair to say Chelsea are not devoid of outstanding midfield options, even with Walsh unavailable.

Kerstin Casparij vs Lauren James

Who City defender Kerstin Casparij is tasked with keeping quiet on Saturday depends on who Bompastor selects to play on Chelsea's left. Due to Guro Reiten's absence in recent weeks, Lauren James, Catarina Macario and Aggie Beever-Jones have all played there.

James, in particular, tends to operate the best out wide with her power and trickery. The forward is a nightmare for any defender, not least because she has the ability to cut inside and shoot from range.

Whoever Casparij faces will be a tough test, but the likely battle with James arguably has the potential to be the most crucial, not least because the Chelsea star has scored the winning or equalising goal in their matches against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Everton.

Laia Aleixandri vs Mayra Ramirez

At the opposite end of the pitch to the Bright and Shaw battle, City's defence will have a significant task of their own. Mayra Ramirez is one of the most exciting forwards in the women's game at the moment and is consistently a handful for whoever she faces.

City have been forced to play a rather makeshift defence at times this season due to injuries, including the long-term absence of Alex Greenwood. Laia Aleixandri is currently the mainstay and has been partnered with either 20-year-old Gracie Prior or Naomi Layzell in recent weeks.

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