May's Standout Fixtures: Your TV Watch Guide

Sophie Hurst
Apr 22
4 min read

May is always a bittersweet month in football. It delivers the highest highs, but it also marks the end of another season. And with no major women’s international tournament this summer, the game is about to fall quiet.

So before it does, let’s take a look at what May has in store.

UWCL Semi-Finals: Familiar Giants, Unfinished Business

The UEFA Women's Champions League is down to four: Arsenal, Barcelona, Lyon, and Bayern Munich.

The first legs take place this weekend, with the second legs following on May 2nd and 3rd.

Barcelona vs Bayern stands out immediately, as Barcelona put seven past Bayern earlier this season in a dominant 7-1 win. But knockout football is rarely that straightforward, and Bayern’s squad is packed with talent, especially with key players set to leave this summer, they’ll be desperate to make a statement.

On the other side, Arsenal face Lyon in a tie layered with history. Arsenal edged Lyon out at this stage last season to go on to win the competition, but Lyon had the upper hand earlier this campaign with a 2-1 win. So the question is: will Lyon come back for revenge, or can Arsenal do it again?

It’s hard to look past Barcelona as favourites to reach the final, but this competition has a habit of delivering the unexpected.

UWCL Final: The Biggest Night of the Season

The final takes place on May 23rd in Oslo.

This is the pinnacle of club football and the most prestigious trophy in the women’s game. Form often goes out the window here; anything can happen.

Barcelona will be looking to return to the top after losing last year’s final, while Bayern are chasing history, aiming to reach their first-ever UWCL final. Arsenal will be looking to retain their title, and Lyon will be wanting to hold onto their winning record. Regardless of who gets there, it’s the fixture that defines seasons.

FA Cup: History, Rivalries, and Wembley Dreams

The Women's FA Cup Final remains one of the most historic competitions in the women’s game, often the only match many players remember watching growing up.

The semi-finals take place on May 10th:

Liverpool Women vs Brighton & Hove Albion Women
Chelsea Women vs Manchester City Women

With the final set for May 31st at Wembley Stadium.

The semi-finals might actually be the most intriguing stage. Chelsea and Manchester City are both chasing silverware, with City especially motivated after losing the League Cup final to Chelsea. They’ve been in incredible form and will be pushing for a potential double.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have had a difficult season but have picked up momentum since Christmas. Brighton stunned Arsenal away in the quarter-finals. The question is whether they can carry that energy through to reach their first FA Cup final.

WSL Final Day: Everything Still to Play For

The Women's Super League title race looks close to settled, with Manchester City sitting comfortably at the top for most of the season, but the real drama lies just behind them.

Chelsea vs Manchester United Women on the final day (May 16th) could define the Champions League spots. Alongside Arse

nal, these teams are locked in one of the most competitive qualification races we’ve seen in years.

It’s not often Chelsea find themselves in a position where they are fighting to secure, rather than dominate. This is the fixture to have those Fotmob notifications on for.

At the bottom of the table, things are just as tense. This season, 12th place doesn’t mean automatic relegation, but a playoff. Right now, it looks like a battle between West Ham United Women and Leicester City Women.

WSL2 Final Day: Promotion, Playoffs, and Pressure

The WSL2 is especially interesting this year, with the WSL expanding to 14 teams. Meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted, and the third place enters a playoff against 12th in the WSL.

With two games left, Birmingham City Women and Charlton Athletic Women sit in the top two, level on points, with Birmingham ahead on goal difference. They face each other on the final day of the season (May 2nd), and while the title is up for grabs, both sides will be focused on sealing promotion first.

Behind them, Crystal Palace Women hold third, with Newcastle United Women chasing. For Newcastle to break into that playoff spot, they would need to win both remaining games and hope Palace lose both; an unlikely, but not impossible scenario.

The Playoff: One Game, Everything on the Line

The playoff takes place on May 23rd, with the home advantage given to the WSL2 side.

This is a fixture I have had my eyes fixed on all season, as it provides ultimate opportunity and drama - two teams fighting for the same outcome, but with very different stakes. One is trying to stay at the top level; the other is chasing promotion, investment, and visibility.

There are wider questions too. With Leicester City FC struggling on the men’s side, could that impact the women’s team? And if Leicester Women stay up, how much will be invested in maintaining their top-flight status?