Lyon enter the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final under pressure yet still confident. The record eight-time winners trail Wolfsburg 1-0 on aggregate, but Jule Brand insists the squad remain driven to add another title after recent near misses in Europe.

The French club have not lifted the Champions League since 2021-22, while Barcelona beat them in the 2024 final and Arsenal eliminated them in the semi-finals last season. Even so, Lyon again look strong this year after finishing second in their group and dominating spells of the first leg.

Brand moved from Wolfsburg to Lyon last summer and is now facing the former club in this tie. Brand describes a dressing room still obsessed with trophies, despite years of success, and believes that shared focus will be vital as Lyon attempt to overturn the deficit against Wolfsburg.

“When I started, I saw that all the players had won so many titles before, and they still have the hunger to win every title again,” she told UEFA.com. “I see this in training, where the standards are so high, and it makes me push myself and adapt to get to their level.”

“On the pitch, I learn from so many great players, as everybody can do something special. The Champions League is very special at OL Lyonnes. The team have won a lot of trophies before, and we want to win the next one this season.”

Lyon’s history in Europe remains imposing. The club own a record eight Champions League titles, including five in a row between 2015-16 and 2019-20. Despite that dominance, this is only the third time in 53 Champions League knockout ties that Lyon start a second leg behind on aggregate.

“When I signed, I knew the aim would be to win the Champions League and to keep the legacy going. I also see the hunger from all the players, from everyone at the club, to win it again, which is inspirational, and it’s something I look up to.”

Lyon Champions League tie against Wolfsburg

The first leg in Germany brought mixed feelings for Lyon. The team created 19 attempts and struck the woodwork, but managed only three shots on target and conceded once. That narrow defeat leaves Lyon needing at least two goals at home to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

“The team didn’t succeed in the first match, so it is our responsibility to do better,” head coach Jonatan Giraldez said. “I think it will be a different story here. We must remember the performances we’ve achieved since the beginning of the season as we look forward.”

Lyon’s task is complicated by Wolfsburg’s strong record when ahead after the first leg. The German side have never failed to progress in the Champions League from such a position, converting every previous advantage into qualification over two legs.

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Wolfsburg’s single defeat in a second leg after winning the first came in the 2015-16 semi-finals, when Wolfsburg beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 at home but lost 1-0 away. Even that tie ended in progression, underlining the scale of Lyon’s challenge in this quarter-final.

Despite the deficit and Wolfsburg’s perfect progression record in similar situations, Lyon’s experience and mentality keep expectations high. Brand and teammates speak openly about defending the club’s legacy, and the second leg offers another test of whether that hunger can restore Lyon to the Champions League summit.