London City Lionesses Showcase Potential in Pre-season Tour
Pre-season rarely tells the whole story. It can hint at what is coming, reveal new partnerships and give fans something to obsess over before the points start counting (basically what they’ve done with Fantasy WSL). But this summer, it has also made one thing clear: the Women’s Super League could be very difficult to predict.
London City Lionesses concluded their pre-season tour of Portugal and Spain on a high note, finishing unbeaten with a 2-0 victory over Sevilla at Estadio Jesús Navas. Daniëlle van de Donk netted the opening goal, followed by a header from Grace Geyoro in the second half. Under the guidance of Eder Maestre, the team secured two wins and a draw from three matches.
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The significance of the result extends beyond the scoreline. London City has constructed a squad that appears ready to challenge expectations typically associated with newly promoted teams, which often focus solely on survival.
A summer of blockbuster transfer business for London City Lionesses
Mapi León and Alexia Putellas made their first televised appearances for London City against Sevilla, giving fans a chance to see two prominent figures in women’s football on their team. Their extensive experience at the highest level instantly elevates a squad still in the process of building chemistry.
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During the match against Sevilla, London City displayed flashes of their potential.
The hosts threatened first, with Andrea Álvarez testing goalkeeper Elene Lete from a distance after 21 minutes. Lete remained composed and made the crucial save, allowing London City to seize control shortly after.
The opening goal arose from the persistent pressure that Maestre hopes to maintain throughout the season. Van de Donk forced a rushed pass from the Sevilla goalkeeper, later securing a rebound to score after the original attempt was parried.
The goal energized London City, though Sevilla remained competitive. The Lionesses demonstrated impressive organization and patience, particularly when defending. Maestre noted he couldn’t recall Sevilla creating many clear-cut opportunities, which he viewed as a positive takeaway from the match.
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“Despite being clunky at times, I don’t remember any opposition chances,” Maestre remarked. “Having this consistency out of possession is really important, so I’m happy.”
Read more: WSL Football launches Subway Players Cup with player welfare at its core
This defensive discipline laid the groundwork for continued offensive efforts after the break. They scored a second goal with 13 minutes remaining when Janni Thomsen’s corner was redirected by Saki Kumagai, allowing Geyoro to react quickly and head the ball into the net.
London City nearly added another goal in the 90th minute, when Corinne Henson’s powerful shot from outside the box forced Sevilla’s goalkeeper into a sharp save.
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The match concluded a successful tour for LCL, who beat Benfica 3-1, drew 1-1 with Sporting CP, and defeated Sevilla 2-0. More significantly, Maestre utilized the three matches to distribute playing time among his squad and foster team cohesion among the new additions.
“Pre-season is about building confidence and still managing the load of our players,” Maestre explained. “It’s about team building, giving everybody game time and keeping the mood and vibes amazing.”
Van de Donk noticed areas for improvement despite the victory. London City struggled with their rhythm early in the game against Sevilla but looked sharper after the break.
“We struggled a little bit in the first half; we were a little sloppy,” she stated. “In the second half, there was a little more power, and some of the substitutions did great, so that was nice to see.”
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A WSL season of expectations for London City Lionesses
Such honesty may hold greater significance than their unbeaten record. As the WSL season approaches, London City must convert glimpses of quality into consistent performances, especially against top-tier opponents. Their league opener against Manchester United will present a significant challenge, as they will grapple with penalties for any mistakes made.
Nevertheless, London City approaches the season with something rare for newly promoted teams: anticipation.
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The competition has provided ample reasons for the Lionesses to believe that opportunities for success may arise.
The landscape of the league shifted this week when Arsenal triumphed over reigning WSL champions Manchester City in a pre-season match. While results do not impact standings, this outcome serves as an early sign that the top teams may not simply resume their dominance.
Manchester City now faces the task of defending their title in a league that continues to evolve. Arsenal’s recent success demonstrates their capability to challenge the champions. Chelsea boasts one of the most robust squads in the competition, while Manchester United anticipates a strong season. Meanwhile, London City has added significant international experience, potentially allowing them to reshape perceptions rather than merely settle into the league.
While London City may not contend for the title immediately, they pose a legitimate threat to underestimate. The presence of stars like Putellas and Diani adds to their potential for disruption.
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For a club set to embark on its second WSL season, this marks a pivotal shift. London City is no longer just entering the league; they are preparing to do so with a mindset aimed at success.
If the early indicators hold true, the upcoming WSL season may challenge expectations and refuse to adhere to conventional narratives.
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Pre-season rarely tells the whole story. It can hint at what is coming, reveal new partnerships and give fans something to obsess over before the points start counting (basically what they’ve done with Fantasy WSL). But this summer, it has also made one thing clear: the Women’s Super League could be very difficult to predict.
London City Lionesses finished their pre-season tour of Portugal and Spain unbeaten, closing with a 2-0 win over Sevilla at Estadio Jesús Navas. Daniëlle van de Donk opened the scoring before Grace Geyoro headed in a second half goal, giving Eder Maestre’s side two wins and a draw from three matches.
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The result itself matters less than the bigger picture. London City have assembled a squad that looks capable of testing teams that may have expected a newly promoted side to simply focus on survival.
The club’s summer recruitment has changed that expectation.
A summer of blockbuster transfer business for London City Lionesses
Mapi León and Alexia Putellas made their first broadcasted appearances for London City against Sevilla, giving supporters their first proper look at two of the biggest names in the squad and the women’s game. Both players bring years of experience at the highest level and their presence immediately raises the ceiling of a team still learning how to play together.
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Against Sevilla, London City showed glimpses of that star-studded potential.
The hosts created the first meaningful chance after 21 minutes, when Andrea Álvarez tested Elene Lete from distance. Lete stayed composed and made the save, but London City soon began to take control.
The opening goal came from the kind of pressure that Maestre will want to see throughout the season. Van de Donk chased down the Sevilla goalkeeper and forced a rushed pass toward Lucía Corrales. Corrales took a touch before firing toward goal, but the goalkeeper could only parry the shot. Van de Donk followed the play and calmly placed the rebound into the net.
The goal gave City momentum but Sevilla never made the game easy. London City had to stay organised and patient, particularly without the ball. Maestre said he could not remember Sevilla creating many clear chances, which he viewed as one of the most encouraging parts of the performance.
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“Despite being clunky at times, I don’t remember any opposition chances,” Maestre said. “Having this consistency out of possession is really important, so I’m happy.”
Read more: WSL Football launches Subway Players Cup with player welfare at its core
That defensive discipline allowed LCL to keep building their attack after half-time. They found their second goal with 13 minutes left, when Janni Thomsen delivered a corner toward the back post. Saki Kumagai redirected it across the box and Geyoro reacted quickest to head the ball home.
London City nearly finished the night with another goal when Corinne Henson collected possession outside the box in the 90th minute. Her powerful strike forced Sevilla’s goalkeeper into a sharp save over the crossbar.
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The performance capped a positive tour. LCL beat Benfica 3-1, drew 1-1 with Sporting CP and then defeated Sevilla 2-0. More importantly, Maestre used the three games to spread minutes across his squad and build chemistry between a group with plenty of new faces.
“Pre-season is about building confidence and still managing the load of our players,” Maestre said. “It’s about team building, giving everybody game time and keeping the mood and vibes amazing.”
Van de Donk also saw room for improvement despite the result. London City struggled to find their rhythm early against Sevilla, but she felt the team looked sharper after half-time.
“We struggled a little bit in the first half; we were a little sloppy,” she said. “In the second half, there was a little more power, some of the substitutions did great, so that was nice to see.”
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A WSL season of expectations for London City Lionesses
That honesty might matter more than the unbeaten record. London City will need to turn flashes of quality into consistency once the WSL begins, especially since they won’t be playing against the likes of lower ranked teams. The league opener against Manchester United will press them higher and punish mistakes more quickly.
Still, however, they enter the season with something newly promoted teams rarely have: expectation.
The rest of the league has given them plenty of reason to believe the door might actually be open.
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Arsenal added another layer of intrigue this week when they beat reigning WSL champions Manchester City in pre-season. The result does not count toward the standings, but it sends an early warning that the teams at the top may not simply pick up where they left off.
Manchester City now have to defend their title against a league that continues to strengthen. Arsenal have shown they can beat the champions. Chelsea remain one of the deepest squads in the competition. Manchester United will expect to compete near the top. And London City have added enough international experience to make their promotion feel less like an arrival and more like an opportunity to disrupt the established order.
That does not mean London City will suddenly challenge for the title but it does mean opponents cannot afford to underestimate them, especially with powerhouses like Putellas and Diani.
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For a club entering its second WSL season, that could be one of the most important shifts of all. London City are no longer simply preparing for the league. They are preparing to participate in it with ambition.
If the early signs mean anything, this could be a season where the WSL table refuses to follow the script.
Related articles from Her Football Hub:
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WSL: What Rylee Foster-Inman’s historic Everton transfer from Halifax Tides means for the NSL
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WSL: Manchester City’s Lily Murphy joins Aston Villa on loan
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