Man Utd v Man City: WSL title and European qualification in focus at derby match

Whenever Manchester United face Manchester City, there is always a lot at stake.

And when the Women's Super League clubs meet at Old Trafford on Saturday (13:30 GMT), the focus will be on the league title and a place in Europe next season.

Manchester City are top of the WSL table and need a maximum of eight points from their remaining four matches to clinch a first league title in a decade.

United are second, eight points behind. Chelsea are third, nine adrift of City, while Arsenal, who are fourth and 11 points back, have two games in hand.

Marc Skinner's United have won only two of their 12 WSL meetings with City and lost 3-0 in the reverse fixture at Etihad Stadium in November.

With the top three qualifying for Europe, will they turn around their derby form on Saturday and boost their chances of qualifying for next season's Women's Champions League?

Or will City, after six runners-up finishes in the past nine seasons, emerge triumphant and put themselves on the brink of winning a second WSL title?

United's task has been made even harder with the fixture sandwiched between both legs of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.

They were beaten 3-2 in a gruelling encounter at Old Trafford on Wednesday and are missing key midfielder Ella Toone through injury.

But can they open up a gap from third-placed Chelsea while thrusting themselves back into the race for top spot by delaying City's march to the title?

"That's the plan, right? That's the aim. The aim is if we can beat City, you cut the gap as well. Nobody is out of it," said Skinner.

"We're going to be judged on how far we go. We're creating history every single day. We look at the big markers. This team is growing massively.

"You talk about big games, but we've played them all season. We are entrenched in it and my team will give absolutely everything."

If United hope to have any chance of succeeding on Saturday, they must stop Khadija Shaw.

The Manchester City striker has scored a league-leading 18 goals in 18 matches and bagged the quickest hat-trick in WSL history last weekend during a 5-2 demolition of Tottenham.

"You have to mark her first in the box. There are a lot of teams giving space to her. She is an incredible footballer," said Skinner.

"I have a lot of respect for Manchester City. They have some fantastic footballers. But you've got to be street-wise. We have to be clever and we have to be smart.

"They are going to create chances but we have to be resilient in those moments and find the right spaces to block. And then hit them and hurt them."

City are on a high after an impressive season so far but they have failed to win their past two away games.

Their explosive home win over Tottenham was the perfect response to a disappointing draw at Aston Villa the week before.

"Winning games and scoring lots of goals builds confidence. I'm happy about that and it has shown in the week," said manager Andree Jeglertz.

"There is a great mood in the group. You know you're surrounded by great football players so that creates confidence.

"We're fully aware we're playing against a very good team, who have had a great season. It will be a battle but I'm really looking forward to it."

It will be Jeglertz's first experience managing at Old Trafford but he says it is not something he has thought about as he prepares for the derby.

City have, however, missed playing in Europe while watching their rivals compete in the Champions League quarter-finals this week - Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of their tie.

And Jeglertz sees both "positive and negative" aspects to both side's preparations.

"We have really missed those nights," said Jeglertz.

"United have had the possibility to play these high intensity games during the week when we haven't.

"We train a lot but we don't get those games like they do. That is also building something for them and they know about the speed they will face.

"We can't prepare in the same way so there are both positive and negative parts in not playing these games. Physically, there is definitely an advantage for us. But mentally, and in preparation, I would say it's the same."

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