Historic Championship title decider this weekend | OneFootball

The Women's Championship is heading towards an epic final day confrontation as second-place Birmingham City take on leaders London City Lionesses at St Andrews.

The women's second tier has been more competitive than ever this year. London City Lionesses' take over meant that they were able to invest in a way that would make lower-level WSL sides blush. Similarly, Newcastle United have the finances behind them should they choose to use it but their investment already has seen them shoot up the pyramid.

Meanwhile, there were more established sides like Durham Women, who also saw a change behind the scenes, and Birmingham City who will feel like their rightful place in women's football is in the top tier.

All of this chance has led to a title decider between the top two clubs on the final day of the season. And to add to this historic occasion, the Women's Championship will be on TV for the first time ever, with Sky Sports set to show this huge game between Birmingham City and London City Lionesses.

Birmingham City

The Blues are the hosts with this crucial game to be played at the stadium that is now known as St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park due to sponsorship reasons.

Birmingham City have plenty of pedigree in women's football, with the club winning the FA Cup in 11/12 and having previously challenged for the league title. As the sands have shifted in the women's game, City have fallen behind but now could make it back to the big time.

This season, the Blues have kept pace with London City Lionesses and stayed ahead of the likes of Charlton Athletic, Durham, and Newcastle United in their title charge.

Head coach Amy Merricks knows they only have to do one thing at the weekend: win. A victory for Birmingham City over the Lionesses would ensure that they'll be competing in the top flight next season, something that will give the Birmingham boss an entirely different headache with the gulf between the top flight and the Championship in recent seasons.

London City Lionesses

As the highest-positioned independent women's club in football, London City Lionesses have plenty of expectations, especially after Michele Kang's takeover last year.

That change meant an influx of established, experienced internationals and also the arrival of Jocelyn Prêcheur as head coach.

So it's no surprise then that London City Lionesses currently top the second flight. Indeed, this is a squad that looks like it could compete with much lower teams in the WSL.

For the Lionesses, this weekend's mission is far more simple than Birmingham City's. All Prêcheur's team need to do is avoid defeat and they will find themselves in the English top flight for the 2025/26 campaign.

Previous encounters

These two sides have faced each other five times in the league beginning with two victories for the Lionesses in the 2022/23 campaign.

But in the last three games it's Birmingham City who have had the better of it, winning all of those games including a 2-1 victory on the road earlier this season.

Gemma Lawley and Neve Harron gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at half-time that day with Georgia Brougham pulling a goal back that ultimately only proved to be a consolation.

That win was a big one for Merricks' team then but it would be even more significant if they can do it once again.