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There was considerable interest around the opening match of the 2026/27 Women's Super League, and it ended with London City Lionesses easing past Manchester United.

London City once again invested heavily and added marquee names, with Alexia Putellas and Mapi Léon both named in the starting line-up. Those levels of reinforcements were not available to a revamped Manchester United side now under Eva Olid.

In fact, Olid has had only a few weeks to get her squad ready, and that was evident as United appeared unsure in their passing patterns, while London City pressed aggressively high up the pitch and kept them pinned back for long spells inside their own defensive third.

For all that control, the home team's two goals both arrived from set-piece situations. The opener came from a corner swung in from the left, with Julia Zigiotti Olme heading into her own net while under pressure from Alanna Kennedy.

United were unable to build any meaningful attacking momentum and, in fact, did not manage a single shot on target over the course of the match.

Somewhat surprisingly, the result was not fully sealed until the 82nd minute, when a short corner on the right led to the impressive Delphine Cascarino driving in a low cross that Daniëlle van Donk turned home with a flick.

The nine minutes of added time, caused by Lucía Corrales' injury, allowed the visitors to score a late consolation as substitute Simi Awujo struck past Elene Lete, but it came much too late to affect the outcome.

London City Lionesses next take on West Ham United in a match they will be expected to win, while the task does not get any easier for United, who host Chelsea in their second fixture of the new season.