Olympique Lyonnais (OL) suffered but won on Tuesday March 19 in Lisbon at the expense of Benfica 2 to 1, in the quarter-final first leg of the Women's Champions League.
The Lyonnaises were announced as big favorites for this confrontation against an opponent that the Rhone club beat twice 5-0 in 2021-2022, but the Lisboans have progressed a lot.
They gave Sonia Bompastor's players a hard time and opened the scoring at the end of the first period with Andreia Faria who intercepted a bad pass from Vanessa Gilles sent to Griedge M'Bock in the middle before beating Christiane Endler from close range (1-0, 43rd). At the start of the match, the latter saved her team by diverting an attempt from Andrea Falcon (7th) onto the post.
For their part, OL, who topped their group in the first phase and were undefeated − like Chelsea and Barcelona −, once again lacked offensive efficiency as they did against Paris Saint-Germain in the league on February 11 (1- 1) or against Fleury (0-0) in the Coupe de France semi-final from which he was eliminated on penalties.
Sara Däbritz for the winning goal
After a mediocre first period where they were only dangerous on two attempts on target from Eugénie Le Sommer, the Lyonnaises completely dominated the match after the break. They logically equalized thanks to Delphine Cascarino who victoriously took a cross from Ellie Carpenter cleverly deflected with a backheel by Melchie Dumornay who had just come into play (1-1, 63rd).
Enough to reassure their coach, Sonia Bompastor. “At halftime, we had to refocus certain things in terms of discipline and athleticism. We had to put on intensity and I didn’t find these aspects in my team in the first half,” she regretted.
OL finally took the lead with a headed goal by Sara Däbritz who took over a cross from the right wing by Lindsay Horan (2-1, 79th). Previously, goalkeeper Lena Pauels saved her team several times in front of Kadidiatou Diani while a shot from Däbritz went narrowly wide, illustrating the control of the French champions in the second half.
This close victory nevertheless constitutes a good option for qualification. The return match will be played on Wednesday March 27 at the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon.
Sonia Bompastor also confided that she “enjoyed a unique moment” at the Luz stadium. “We had the chance to play in a legendary stadium in front of part of my family who are Benfica fans,” said the technician, of Portuguese origin.
