Lyon Women Readies Semi-Final Clash With Arsenal In Champions Leaguenewsline24

Lyon move into a Women’s Champions League semi-final against holders Arsenal after dismissing Wolfsburg 4-0 in the quarter-final second leg. The French club advance 4-1 on aggregate and now seek to overturn last season’s semi-final loss to Arsenal, with Lily Yohannes stressing that Lyon’s focus stays firmly on their own performance.

Yohannes, who struck the opener in that emphatic win over Wolfsburg, underlined that mindset. Lyon had already beaten Arsenal 2-1 earlier this season, but also remember a 4-1 home defeat in last year’s semi-final second leg, following a 2-1 first-leg success at Emirates Stadium.

Speaking after the Wolfsburg victory, Yohannes made clear that preparation centres on Lyon’s game plan rather than Arsenal’s reputation. “We know Arsenal are a top side. But right now, we are not really thinking about the opponent we’re focused on ourselves and we know that if we put in our top performance, we can beat anyone,” said Yohannes.

Yohannes also described the emotional scenes as Lyon sealed the semi-final place. “We’ll be prepared. I was jumping up and down for every goal. I think we played so well all together as a team. We gave it our all in every minute of the match, so I think we deserve this win and we’re really happy to go on to the semis.”

Lyon’s display against Wolfsburg on Wednesday backed up that confidence. The French side controlled territory and tempo, forcing Wolfsburg deep for long phases. Lyon fired 37 shots, with 14 efforts on target, and produced 4.09 expected goals, while Wolfsburg managed 0.65 xG during a match where Lyon’s pressure rarely eased.

Three of Lyon’s goals arrived in extra time, reflecting their fitness and depth as the match opened up. That late surge confirmed a 4-0 win on the night and a 4-1 aggregate success. It also highlighted Lyon’s ability to keep attacking late in games, an asset that could matter against Arsenal.

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The victory also extended Lyon’s record in Europe’s main women’s club competition. Lyon have lifted the Champions League trophy eight times, the most in the tournament’s history. Facing Arsenal again in the semi-finals adds another chapter to this rivalry, with last season’s dramatic turnaround still fresh for both clubs.

On the opposite side, Wolfsburg coach Stephan Lerch reflected on the exit with mixed feelings. The numerical gap in attempts and xG underlined how fiercely Wolfsburg were pushed back. However, Lerch pointed to the team’s resilience against one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.

Wolfsburg coach Stephan Lerch said:”The defeat obviously hurts. Nevertheless, we can be very proud of ourselves. It’s a shame that in some situations we werent clear enough and didn’t act decisively. As a result, we were under heavy defensive pressure for long stretches. The teamembraced it until the end, gave everything and never gave up. In the end, it unfortunately wasn’t enough. Still, we are among the top eight teams in the Champions League, had some very strong performances and faced demanding opponents. Overall, we’ve made very good progress and can leave this competition with our heads held high.”

Both sides leave the quarter-final with different targets. Wolfsburg end their campaign among Europe’s last eight, encouraged by Lerch’s assessment of progress. Lyon, boosted by Yohannes’ influence and a strong attacking display, now turn full attention to facing Arsenal in another Women’s Champions League semi-final clash.