The reigning European champions, deprived of several injured executives, bowed heavily (5-1) at home. They will have to react next week in Turin, against Juventus.
Le Monde with AFP
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 upgraded at home, Wednesday, October 19, by Arsenal , at the opening of the female Champions League.
For this first match in the group C statement, OL was 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 in the collective game and the speed of execution of the Londoners, also higher in the commitment. An observation also confirming the rise of English clubs.
“The high level is a lot of efficiency and details, recognized the Lyonnaise coach, Sonia Bompastor. On the highlights of our match, we did not know how to be killed to worry Arsenal. On the contrary , this good team by his individuals knew how to hurt us. “
doubled by Foord and Mead
In the 60,000 -seat enclosure of the Groupama Stadium garnished with only a few thousand spectators, the club Octuple winner of the competition was mistreated at the entrance, by conceding the opening of the score minute by Caitlin Foord, on a center delivered from the right wing by Beth Mead, before Frida Maanum widens the gap, at 22 e sup> minute, taking up a shot from Stina Blackstenius, pushed back by the goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
Admittedly, Melvine Malard has relaunched, in the process, the Lyonnaises, being opportunistic after a resumption of the volley of Lindsey Horan hitting the bar (2-1, 27
But the Englishman Beth Mead, second in the Ballon d’Or 2022 and best player in the Euro, won with her selection in July, knocked out the OL by carrying the scoring at 3-1 on a direct free kick consecutive to a fault of Wendie Renard (3-1, 45
“Find confidence”
“Tonight, we were very effective, appreciated the Swedish coach of Arsenal, Jonas Eidevall. The players worked hard to apply the game plan in attack and defense. It is a special evening, We have won, and especially with an unexpected 5-1 score against a Lyon team which is very strong. “
Last of group C, the Lyonnaises must absolutely react, Thursday, October 27, when they travel to Turin to face Juventus. The Italians, Quarts-de-Finalists last season against OL, and who had won the first leg (2-1), went to win in Switzerland, in Zurich, 2-0.
“We must mentally find confidence and go with ambition to play against Juventus to consider a performance there, and get back in position in the classification,” analyzed Sonia Bompastor.