- West Ham form: West Ham United Women have failed to win 4 of their last 5 Super League Women 2025/2026 matches (W1, D1, L3).
- Lionesses form: London City Lionesses have won none of their last 5 Super League Women 2025/2026 contests (D1, L4).
- Away record: London City Lionesses have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 5 away Super League Women 2025/2026 fixtures (W3, D1, L5).
Lionesses look to pounce on West Ham’s vulnerable defense
West Ham United Women have had an up-and-down run of form in recent weeks, winning once, drawing once and losing three times in their last 5 Super League Women 2025/2026 encounters. Rita Guarino’s West Ham United Women side have failed to make the most of their recent home fixtures, posting a mixed 1-1-1 record across their last 3 games at the London Stadium.
Last time out London City Lionesses were unlucky to draw 2-2 at home with Tottenham Women in the FA Cup, losing on penalties. West Ham United Women had been edged 1-0 by London City five months earlier in the Super League Women 2024/2025, so Sunday’s Super League Women clash will provide a real test of progress for both clubs.
The Lionesses are also struggling in the Super League Women, sitting 7th in the 2025/2026 edition of the Women’s Super League with 20 points from 18 games, compared to 11th-placed West Ham’s 12 points from the same number of contests. The Lionesses have won none of their last 5 Super League Women 2025/2026 fixtures; their recent run featured a 2-2 home draw (lost on penalties) against Tottenham Women in the FA Cup, a 0-2 home defeat to Arsenal Women, and a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea Women.
Eder Maestre has improved synchronisation between the lines
Tactical setup
Eder Maestre’s appointment as London City Lionesses’ manager in January 2026 has given their Super League Women 2025/2026 campaign a new direction, and his pragmatic and flexible tactics have made them a matchup nightmare for West Ham. Maestre’s team can play a 4-4-2 medium block system to stop the opposition’s central creativity whilst also pressing high to disrupt possession-based teams.
When the situation is right, midfielders in Maestre’s system arrive late into the box to join the attack, a tactic that could cause issues for Guarino’s more structured approach. West Ham United Women operate with a possession-based 4-2-3-1 formation, with full-backs offering width and an aggressive pressing trigger when the ball is in the final third.
Key players
- Shekiera Martinez leads West Ham United Women’s scoring charts with 6 Super League Women 2025/2026 goals in 18 appearances and can provide the finishing edge they need on Sunday.
- Freya Godfrey’s 4 goals in 14 Super League Women 2025/2026 appearances this season make her the top goal-scorer for London City Lionesses, and her ability to carry the ball from the midfield line will be crucial in making the away trip a success.
A chess match between Guarino’s West Ham and Maestre’s Lionesses
Sunday’s clash will be a chess match between the new tactical approaches of the two coaches; West Ham United Women will look to stretch the game with the width of their full-backs and vertical transitions, whereas London City Lionesses’ medium block and pressing structure will make West Ham work hard for possession.
The odds for an away win for the London City Lionesses stand at 2.14 for this match, a price we find generous considering the Lionesses are slight favourites. Both teams have weaknesses at the back, and we expect an open, goal-filled game, so the odds for over 2.5 goals in the game at 1.7 look like a solid bet.
