Womens Champions League: In London, Lyons women want to take their revenge

OL Lyonnes, former winners of the Champions League, are heading to Arsenal and the Emirates this Sunday (4:30 pm) in the first leg of the semi-finals, with a taste of revenge and a message, perhaps, to send to the rest of Europe. The Fenottes lifted six trophies in seven seasons, from 2016 to 2022, before three lean years where their tormentors were Chelsea (quarter-finals), Barcelona (final), and Arsenal in the semi-finals (victory 2-1 in the first leg and defeat 4-1 in the return leg).

In London, they will need to show their claws to overcome a tough opponent who has been on an upward trajectory for several months, and demonstrate that the team has improved. The owners of OL Lyonnes were particularly active in the transfer market in the offseason, attracting Ashley Lawrence, Ingrid Engen, Jule Brand, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, as well as coach Jonatan Giraldez, who has won the European title twice with Barcelona.

“Playing to our experience” – “There are nine new players and myself,” the Spaniard noted in a press conference on Saturday. “I don’t like to dwell on the past because we can’t change it. We need to find the mental and football balance to qualify.” “Tomorrow (Sunday) is a new challenge and we face it with a lot of desire,” added Ada Hegerberg, six-time European champion with OL. “We have to play to our experience and new dynamics,” said the Norwegian striker, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.

On the other side, Arsenal also has valuable assets (Williamson, Little, Caldentey, Russo, Blackstenius) even in the absence of Steph Catley (calf) and Beth Mead (personal reasons), and their European culture continues to grow every season.

“A top match” – Over the past four years, the Gunners in the women’s category have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League three times, an impressive feat after a long period of being far behind in Europe. Last year, they even clinched the title after defeating Barcelona. In summary, the English team aims to establish themselves at the top of continental football while the Lyon team aims to return there.

Last October, Lyon disrupted the English team (2-1). But that was during the league phase in the small Meadow Park stadium, far from the stakes and atmosphere expected this Sunday at the Emirates in front of tens of thousands of supporters. “The stadium will be full against a great team and it will be a top match,” summarized Hegerberg. “When you get to April, after working hard during the season to get here, and start playing against top teams, it’s a dream.”

(April 16 at 3:15 PM: Bayern Munich – Barcelona and Arsenal – OL Lyonnes in the first leg of the semi-finals)