Arsenal travels to face OL Lyonnes for the second leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final, holding a slim 2-1 aggregate advantage. The crucial match is set to take place on Saturday, May 2nd, at the OL Stadium.
Arsenal secured their first-leg victory through a late surge, coming from behind after OL Lyonnes had taken the lead. A goalkeeping error by Christiane Endler leveled the score, followed by a decisive goal from Olivia Smith late in the game. This marked Arsenal's first time winning the first leg of a Champions League semi-final.
A HISTORY OF CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
The tie echoes last season's semi-final, where Arsenal also faced OL Lyonnes and secured a 2-1 win in the first leg before a more dominant performance in the return fixture. This history suggests that neither side will concede easily.
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OL Lyonnes, under coach Jonatan Giráldez, are seeking to overturn the deficit. The French club, a formidable force in European football with eight Champions League titles, is expected to feature key players like Melchie Dumornay, who missed the first leg but is anticipated to return. Dumornay has a history of scoring against Arsenal this season.
Arsenal, the reigning champions, have shown resilience throughout the competition. Their recent form includes a significant 7-0 win against Leicester City in the Women's Super League, indicating their attacking prowess. However, their squad faces several absentees due to injury and personal reasons, including Leah Williamson and Beth Mead. OL Lyonnes also has players out, such as Kadidiatou Diani and Ada Hegerberg, and several others are doubtful or unavailable.
The stakes are high, with the winner advancing to face either Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 23rd in Oslo.
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Key Match Details:
Competition: UEFA Women's Champions League Semi-final, Second Leg
Teams: OL Lyonnes vs. Arsenal
Date: Saturday, May 2nd
Kick-off Time: 15:00 CET (2 PM UK time)
Venue: OL Stadium, Décines
First Leg Result: Arsenal 2-1 OL Lyonnes
Where to Watch (UK): BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, Disney+