Lasses Opposition Analysis: London City Lionesses

This Saturday, Sunderland Women take on London City Lionesses at home in the FA Cup, so let’s take a deeper look at the opponents and what this may mean for the game!

A club built on independence

The story of London City Lionesses has always been one of defiance, ambition, and a refusal to be restricted by the traditional boundaries of women’s football in England.

Founded in 2019 as a breakaway organisation from Millwall Lionesses, the club was built on the belief that a women’s team could thrive independently without being tethered to a men’s side. That founding principle has shaped everything they’ve become: bold, unconventional, and determined to carve out their own identity in a landscape dominated by long‑established giants.

The 2025/2026 season marks their first ever campaign in the Women’s Super League — and it’s been a campaign marked by transformation and undeniable progress.

From the influence of owner Michele Kang to the shock managerial change in December, to their competitive performances in both league and cup competitions, the Lionesses’ story has become one of the most compelling narratives in English football.

Their journey from Championship (WLS2) winners to WSL contenders has been rapid, and the months ahead will determine whether they can consolidate their place among the elite.

London City Lionesses were created with a clear mission: to build a professional women’s football club that stood on its own two feet.

In a sport where most top teams are subsidiaries of Premier League or Championship men’s clubs, LCL’s independence made them an anomaly but it also gave them freedom — freedom to shape their own culture, to invest where they saw fit, and to build a brand centered around women’s football rather than treating it as an extension of something else.

Their early years were defined by steady growth in the then Championship and they flirted with promotion several times, finishing near the top of the table but never quite managing to break through. That changed when Kang — already a major figure in global women’s football — acquired the club.

Kang’s investment and vision elevated the Lionesses from ambitious outsiders to genuine contenders. Her multi‑club model which includes the Washington Spirit and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin brought expertise, resources, and a long‑term plan that few Championship clubs could match.

The 2024/2025 season was their breakthrough.

Under manager Jocelyn Prêcheur, the Lionesses played dynamic, possession‑based football, blending experienced internationals with emerging talents. They won the Championship title and secured promotion to the WSL for the first time in their history. It was a landmark moment — not just for the club, but for the league itself.

A fully independent women’s club had reached the top flight, proving that the model could succeed.

A summer of ambition and building a WSL-ready squad

Promotion brought new challenges, and the club responded with one of the most ambitious recruitment drives in the league. They strengthened in every area of the pitch, adding international pedigree and WSL experience to ensure they could compete immediately rather than simply survive.

In defence, they brought in Alanna Kennedy, whose leadership and aerial dominance offered stability at centre‑back.

Jana Fernández also arrived to bolster the right side of the defence, bringing technical quality and Barcelona‑honed composure. In midfield, the signings of Katie Zelem and Grace Geyoro added control, intelligence, and top‑level experience. In attack, the addition of Nikita Parris gave them proven WSL firepower, while Sanni Franssi offered versatility and work rate.

It was a squad built not just to avoid relegation but to challenge the established mid‑table order. The message was clear: London City Lionesses weren’t here to make up the numbers.

A strong start to life in the WSL

The early months of 2025/2026 exceeded expectations.

Many newly-promoted sides struggle to adapt to the pace, physicality, and tactical sophistication of the WSL, but the Lionesses settled quickly. Their possession‑based style translated well and their defensive structure — anchored by Kennedy and supported by the excellent goalkeeper Elene Lete — allowed them to stay competitive in every match.

By late December, they sat sixth in the table, comfortably above the relegation zone and within touching distance of the teams above them. They weren’t blowing opponents away, but they were organised, disciplined, and difficult to break down — and their results were that of a team that belonged at this level.

A shock managerial change — a strange decision?

Just as the club appeared to be finding stability, December brought the most surprising moment of the season and on 21 December 2025, London City Lionesses announced they had parted ways with manager Prêcheur.

The decision stunned supporters and observers alike. Prêcheur had delivered promotion, overseen the summer rebuild, and guided the team to a strong WSL position, and there was no public sign of a breakdown in form or relationships.

The timing — in mid‑season and with the team performing well — made the decision feel strange. It was the kind of move that invites speculation, although the club offered no detailed explanation. For a team that prides itself on long‑term planning, the abruptness of the change seemed out of character.

Two weeks later, on 2 January 2026, the club appointed Eder Maestre as the new manager. Maestre arrived with a reputation for tactical adaptability and player development, and his task was clear: maintain the momentum of the season while evolving the team’s style to meet the demands of the WSL.

His appointment was met with cautious optimism, though the shadow of Prêcheur’s departure still lingers.

Recent form: A mixed run of results

In recent weeks, the Lionesses’ form and results have been uneven.

The team has shown flashes of quality but also moments of vulnerability, particularly in defence. Their most recent fixture — a 0‑0 draw against Liverpool — encapsulated both their strengths and weaknesses.

On paper, a clean sheet and a point away from home might seem respectable but in reality, Liverpool will feel they should have taken all three points.

They created the better chances, pressed aggressively, and repeatedly forced errors from the Lionesses’ back line. The Lionesses’ commitment to playing out from the back — usually a strength — became a liability under Liverpool’s pressure.

Several attempted passes through central areas were intercepted, putting the defence under immediate strain. The team looked susceptible, particularly when trying to build from deep. Their composure wavered and the lack of clear passing options often left them scrambling, yet perhaps the most concerning aspect was their attacking output.

They managed only two shots all game, with none on target. For a team with the attacking talent of Parris, Franssi and Goodwin, such a limited threat raises questions about creativity and decision‑making.

Individually, right‑back Fernández had a difficult afternoon as Liverpool targeted her side repeatedly, pressing her first touch and forcing turnovers. She looked like the weak link defensively, and Sunderland will no doubt have taken note.

Strengths, weaknesses, and what comes next

Despite their recent wobble, the Lionesses remain in a strong position.

Seventh place in their debut WSL season is an impressive achievement, and their performances have shown they can compete with established teams. Their strengths are clear: a disciplined defensive structure, a midfield capable of controlling possession, and attackers who can threaten when given space.

However, there are areas that require improvement.

Defensive errors under pressure have become a recurring issue — particularly when opponents press high. Their attacking output has been inconsistent, with long spells in matches where they struggle to create clear chances, and the managerial change — while not catastrophic — has introduced a degree of uncertainty.

Maestre’s challenge is to refine the team’s identity without losing the qualities that made them successful. He must tighten the defensive structure, improve their ability to play through pressure, and unlock more creativity in the final third.

How can the Lasses tame the Lionesses?

For Sunderland Women, the rise of London City Lionesses is both a challenge and an opportunity.

On one hand, they’re facing a newly-promoted side that’s quickly established itself as a competitive WSL outfit with a clear identity and a strong spine. On the other, the Lionesses’ recent performance at the weekend — particularly their struggles under pressure and their inconsistency in the final third — presents openings that a well‑organised and disciplined Sunderland side can exploit.

Sunderland’s own journey this season has been defined by turbulence, inconsistency, injuries, and the growing pains of a squad still adjusting to the demands of competitive WSL2 football, yet during their last two games, they’ve shown a noticeable shift in energy and resilience, producing performances that suggest the group is beginning to steady itself.

There’s been more cohesion in possession, more aggression out of it, and a sense that the players are starting to believe again in what they’re capable of.

That recent progress gives them a platform and they’ll come into this fixture determined to build on it, to correct the lapses that have cost them points and show that their season is far from being defined by its early turbulence.

Whilst one of the clearest patterns emerging from London City’s recent performances is their discomfort when pressed aggressively in their defensive third. Their commitment to playing out from the back is admirable, but it’s has also become a predictable trigger for opponents.

Liverpool exposed this ruthlessly and Sunderland will have watched that match closely. If they can apply similar pressure — particularly down the Lionesses’ right side where Fernández has shown vulnerability — they can force turnovers in dangerous areas and disrupt London City’s rhythm before it has a chance to settle.

The midfield battle will be equally important as London City’s trio of Zelem, Geyoro, and Rodgers is technically strong, but it can be unsettled by compactness and disciplined positioning.

Sunderland don’t need to dominate possession; they simply need to dictate where the game is played. If they can keep the central areas congested, deny Zelem the time she needs to dictate tempo and track Geyoro’s forward runs, they can force London City to funnel their play into wide areas where they are less effective.

Sunderland’s wide players will also have opportunities to exploit the space left behind London City’s full backs.

Fernández and Imuran/Pattinson push high in possession, and while this helps the Lionesses build play, it leaves gaps that can be attacked quickly in transition. Sunderland’s ability to release early balls into the channels, stretch the defensive line, and isolate defenders in foot races could become one of the defining features of the match.

Game management will play a crucial role, as London City are a team that thrive on rhythm and when they settle into their passing patterns, they can control long stretches of a match.

Sunderland’s task will be to break that rhythm whenever possible. Slowing the game down during London City’s spells of pressure, then accelerating immediately after turnovers will prevent the Lionesses from building momentum. Set pieces may also become a valuable platform — especially given London City’s occasional inconsistency in defending them.

There’s also a psychological dimension to consider.

London City now carry expectations — expectations borne from their strong start, ambitious recruitment and their high‑profile ownership. Sunderland, in contrast, enter the match with far less external pressure and this freedom could be a powerful weapon. If Sunderland score first, the pressure on London City could intensify quickly — particularly given the lingering uncertainty following the managerial change.

For Sunderland, this fixture is more than just another match: it’s an opportunity to test themselves against a club representing the league’s emerging middle tier — ambitious, well‑resourced, but still finding its identity.

A positive result would reinforce Sunderland’s status as a competitive side and demonstrate their ability to exploit weaknesses in possession‑based teams, and could also be used as the confidence boost they have been desperately seeking and bring that into the league.

For London City, it’s a chance to steady the ship, to show that the Liverpool performance was an anomaly and to prove that the managerial change hasn’t derailed their progress. Whilst it’s far too early yet for LCL to compete for the WSL title, an FA Cup run and potentially reaching or winning the final would be a fine start for a side with high expectations.

Both teams have something to gain — and something to lose — and that dynamic sets the stage for a compelling, tactically rich encounter.