The players of Olympique Lyonnais (OL) may be reigning European champions, and undefeated in the French championship with five victories in as many days, they were outclassed at home, Wednesday, October 19, by Arsenal, at the opening of the Women’s Champions League.
For this first match in the Group C record, OL were notably deprived of five players who had started the final of the competition in the spring against Barcelona. Ada Hegerberg, but also Griedge M’Bock, Sara Däbritz, Delphine Cascarino, Dzenifer Maroszan, Catarina Macario and Ellie Carpenter, in particular, were absent.
And OL could not compete against the collective game and the speed of execution of the Londoners, also superior in the commitment. A finding also confirming the rise of English clubs.
“The high level is a lot of efficiency and details, admitted the Lyon coach, Sonia Bompastor. On the highlights of our match, we weren’t able to be killers to worry Arsenal. On the contrary, this good team by its individualities knew how to make us very badly. »
Dubbed by Foord and Mead
In the 60,000-seat enclosure of Groupama Stadium, with only a few thousand spectators, the club, eight times winner of the competition, was roughed up from the start, conceding the opener from the 13the minute by Caitlin Foord, on a center delivered from the right wing by Beth Mead, before Frida Maanum widened the gap, on the 22nde minute, taking a shot from Stina Blackstenius, kicked away by goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
Certainly, Melvine Malard revived, in the process, the Lyonnaises, being opportunistic after a volley from Lindsey Horan hitting the bar (2-1, 27e).
But the English Beth Mead, second in the 2022 Golden Ball and best player in the Euro, won with her selection in July, stunned OL by bringing the score to 3-1 on a direct free kick following a foul by Wendie Renard (3-1, 45e+1). The latter, out of the game, is also involved, due to a bad recovery, on Arsenal’s fourth goal, scored by Foord (4-1, 67e), before Beth Mead in turn scored a double (5-1, 69e).
“Finding Confidence”
“Tonight we were very effective, enjoyed Arsenal’s Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall. The players worked hard to apply the game plan in attack and defense. It’s a special night, we won, and especially with an unexpected score of 5-1 against a very strong Lyon team. »
Last in group C, the Lyonnaises must absolutely react, Thursday, October 27, during their trip to Turin to face Juventus. The Italians, quarter-finalists last season against OL, and who won the first leg (2-1), went on to win in Switzerland, in Zurich, 2-0.
“You have to mentally regain confidence and go with ambition to play against Juventus to consider a performance there, and get back in position in the standings”analyzed Sonia Bompastor.