Putellas outshone by Cascarino on debut but is spine of London City’s success

Putellas outshone by Cascarino on debut but is spine of London City's success. Skip to content Analysis Women's Super League: Alexia Putellas' debut for London City analysed with more on Man City and Chelsea Digital journalist Laura Hunter returns for a second season with a WSL-dedicated column, analysing all the big talking points from across the weekend's action; London City Lionesses' winning start is this week's big focus, with more on Manchester City and Chelsea Laura Hunter Football Features Writer Monday 7 September 2026 14:47, UK Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the first round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.

What happened

Putellas only part of London City's style meets substance persona Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights of the Women's Super League match between London City Lionesses and Manchester United Michele Kang rolled out the red carpet in Bromley for London City Lionesses' season opener under the lights, where the Sky Sports cameras were in attendance to watch a dominant win over Manchester United. Of the eight chances London City created, she claimed two and Cascarino was responsible for four.

Image: Alexia Putellas celebrates London City's second goal against Man Utd with scorer Danielle van de Donk But Maestre's side look to have gelled fairly well on first glance. The restless Putellas hype will no doubt carry through the season, her standards acting as the spine and soul of this group of newcomers. London City and Man Utd were actually the perfect antithesis for opening night, a side on their way up passing one in obvious decline.

Alexia Putellas inevitably made all the headlines. But the real standouts from such a positive opening night, in footballing terms, were Delphine Cascarino and Danielle van de Donk.

The wider picture

Stream WSL games with no contractAre Man City too reliant on Hemp? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights of Manchester City against Birmingham in the Women's Super League It's only week one and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw has reaffirmed her position as the best the Women's Super League has to offer, her 11 shots yielding two goals as Man City beat Birmingham. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Bunny Shaw scored Manchester City's second goal of the game against Birmingham City City scored 15 times from corners last season, a seasonal record, and such a superpower will no doubt come in handy again as they look to defend their crown.

Where City might profit this term is by exploiting that expectancy to unlock different pockets of space. Andree Jeglertz has spoken plenty about wanting City to have fresh, innovative ways of creating goals. Aggie Beever-Jones accumulated the highest expected goals total but debutant goalkeeper Akane Okuma was equal to both of her two efforts on target, neither particularly taxing. " The club's succession line of attackers looks too thin given what they are up against. Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the first round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.

What has been reported

Kang herself was among the spectators in a sell-out crowd. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner commands that kind of attention. Neither part of this summer's spending spree but the two most influential players on the park. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. A performance far more complete than the majority of last season, or even the sum of all their individual parts suggested. It will take time for her to acclimatise to new surroundings, or perhaps more appropriately, take patience for those surroundings to adapt to her.

It has always been that way around for La Reina. What was clear is that the Spain superstar will be the nucleus of Eder Maestre's plan.

What happens next

No doubt they will face sterner tests in future weeks. Kang's empire has consumed Bromley and will continue to dominate WSL chatter for as long as their results match their endeavour. Or Mary Earps, who did not feature on Friday but was still a major fan attraction. But buying footballers is really the easy part. Creating a consistent team out of them much more difficult. Nothing about that victory was especially experimental, though still impressive.

Shaw scored two carbon-copy goals, both from corners, both delivered from the left.