MATCH PREVIEW: De Montfort University v University of Leicester

De Montfort Women’s football team could break University of Leicester’s five-year winning streak in women’s football varsity

On Monday March 20, 2023, the biggest game of the year for DMU Women’s football 1st team is back to take place at Beaumont Park against UoL Women’s 1st. It’s the time of the year when the rivalry between De Montfort University and University of Leicester is taken to the next level. It’s the biggest derby in university sports, it is Varsity.

Beaumont Park is expected to be filled with students from both universities that will cheer on their team. Throughout the years UoL have won significantly against DMU in women’s football varsity, having won every varsity in the previous 5 years, last year ending up in a 0-5 win to UoL.

DMU started off their season in the BUCS Aldi Women’s Midlands tier 3 league on a rough patch where they struggled with defence and leaked in loads of goals. However, since coming back from the winter break, DMU has made a tactical change in the way they play, where they drop down the whole midfield and focus on a low block defence. This has resulted in DMU securing a win, drawing most of their games and conceding less goals during second term, and are coming into this fixture as a stronger and more confident team. UoL played in the BUCS Aldi Women’s Midlands Tier 2 league this season and started strongly with loads of goals scored. However, after the winter break, they have conceded more goals and lacked in defence, only coming out with one win this season.

DMU Women´s Football team celebrating after their first win of the season back in January against UEA

DMU top scorer Zina Cheikh is feeling nervous but excited for the upcoming varsity fixture. “I’m so excited for this game, it’s our biggest one yet and we have all worked so hard this season to claim the trophy!”

“It’s crazy to think that all our hard work comes down to this one match on a Monday evening, under the lights.”

UoL started the season off with a win and have since then lost and drawn all their games, having the opposite progression to DMU. Both teams are currently at the bottom of their leagues, with UoL being in the tier above DMU.