Uefa Ladies’s Champions League: Lyon v Arsenal
Venue: Groupama Stadium Date: Sunday, 27 April Kick-off: 17:00 BST
Protection: Reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app
Arsenal are down, however they’re undoubtedly not out of their Ladies’s Champions League semi-final in opposition to eight-time winners Lyon.
The Gunners had extra photographs, extra possession and extra touches inside their opponent’s field within the first leg, however in the end it was Lyon who left Emirates Stadium with a .
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Now, Renee Slegers’ aspect should overturn a deficit in France on Sunday if they’re to succeed in their first Champions League ultimate since 2007, the season through which they received the title.
They face a stiff process although, with Lyon unbeaten within the Champions League this season, having conceded simply three objectives in 9 video games. They’ve solely been knocked out twice in 15 years after profitable the primary leg within the knockout stage and on these events it was to the now redundant away objectives rule.
Whereas Chelsea’s hopes of a primary European trophy have been left hanging by a thread after their , there may be perception Arsenal can nonetheless flip issues round to make sure there may be no less than one English workforce within the ultimate.
“This is not 4-1. It is a utterly completely different narrative, Arsenal are nonetheless in it. It is a utterly completely different dialog,” former Gunners defender Jen Beattie stated.
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However how precisely can Arsenal flip it round in opposition to a workforce which have reached the ultimate of the Champions League 11 instances in 15 years?
How can Arsenal ‘expose’ Lyon?
It wasn’t so way back that Arsenal put 5 objectives previous Lyon on French soil.
Enjoying underneath Jonas Eidevall – earlier than Slegers had joined as his assistant supervisor – the Gunners outclassed the reigning champions within the group stage in 2022.
Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum and Beth Mead, who all began for Slegers on Saturday, have been on the scoresheet.
However Arsenal lacked that ruthlessness in opposition to Lyon final Saturday, with Mead, Maanum, Foord and Alessia Russo lacking a number of possibilities.
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“Arsenal confirmed sufficient on this first leg to take confidence,” ex-England defender Anita Asante advised the Soccer Information Present.
“They actually dominated the ball, they’d management within the ultimate third, created quite a lot of possibilities and so they simply missed a few of that leading edge.”
Kadidiatou Diani beat Arsenal’s offside entice to get behind their defence and she or he made no mistake with a crisp end for a Seventeenth-minute opener.
And simply because the hosts had pulled stage by Mariona Caldentey’s spot-kick, Lyon cut up their backline open with Ada Hegerberg pulling Leah Williamson out of place to open up house for Melchie Dumornay, who darted into the field and lifted the ball over Manuela Zinsberger.
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“Lyon underneath Joe Montemurro should not afraid to not have the ball. They get the objectives they want, sit again and do not search to dominate essentially,” Asante added.
“They are a workforce that can play in transition and their gamers, particularly in that entrance three, are all actually dynamic and may play into house, carry the ball or risk within the field.
“I do not assume it fits Arsenal essentially to play on the counter. They’ll most likely assess the primary 10-Quarter-hour of the sport and adapt from there.”
Regardless of their first-leg defeat, Beattie doesn’t anticipate Arsenal to play “very otherwise”.
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“I feel they acquired the press mistaken as soon as and Diani scored. I am unable to consider many different instances the place Lyon performed by from a objective kick,” she stated.
“I feel the Arsenal press was very, superb and in the event that they do this once more, they’ll go and get a consequence.”
Slegers stated Arsenal should be cautious of “loads of threats”, however that her aspect have the flexibility to “expose” Lyon.
“We’re tremendous humble for the duty as a result of they most likely have the following stage in them – however so will we,” she stated.
Three key battles Arsenal should win
Kadidiatou Diani v Katie McCabe
[BBC]
With a entrance three made up of Diani, Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, Lyon are by no means going to be straightforward to include.
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Arsenal’s full-back Katie McCabe, normally seen powering up and down the left flank, was extra reserved when pitted in opposition to the speedy Diani within the first leg.
The winger discovered house by drifting infield between McCabe and Steph Catley and it was this motion that gifted Lyon the primary objective, with Ellie Carpenter threading the ball by Arsenal’s defence to place Diani one-on-one with Zinsberger.
Put up-match Lyon boss Montemurro stated that was a key tactic they’d recognized to limit McCabe’s impression.
“In fact, I respect Diani and the entire Lyon workforce due to what they’ve achieved, but in addition we all know our qualities and our strengths, particularly going ahead,” McCabe stated.
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“And for me, that’s one in all my strengths, making ahead runs and driving into areas and delivering a ball into the field.”
McCabe’s go map in opposition to Actual Madrid (left) and Lyon (proper) [BBC]
Wendie Renard v Alessia Russo
One of many key questions for Slegers’ aspect earlier than the second leg is whether or not Wendie Renard shall be again within the beginning XI to make her five hundredth look for Lyon.
The 6ft 2in defender – recognized for her aerial prowess – was on the bench on Saturday after recovering from a foot damage.
“Crosses within the field have been actually efficient [and] I feel that is the place Arsenal’s greatest possibilities got here from, but when Renard is again it’s a completely different sport, completely different ways,” Beattie stated.
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“[Arsenal will] should play extra passes in and across the field and break them down.”
Arsenal scored all three of their objectives from crosses throughout their second-leg comeback in opposition to Actual Madrid within the quarter-finals, however they didn’t make any of their 25 crosses depend within the first leg in opposition to Lyon.
Russo, the Gunners’ high scorer with 18 objectives this season, will wish to extra concerned and put herself in harmful areas after having simply 4 touches inside Lyon’s field.
[BBC]
Lindsey Heaps v Mariona Caldentey
Mariona Caldentey is aware of what it takes to win the Champions League.
The Spaniard received three European titles in 4 years with Barcelona earlier than transferring to Arsenal in July, and she or he’s carried that profitable mentality into this season.
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Having scored in Arsenal’s comeback in opposition to Actual Madrid, Caldentey saved cool underneath the strain to transform from the penalty spot in opposition to Lyon – her eighth objective involvement on this season’s Champions League.
Nevertheless it’s not simply her capacity in assault that has helped Arsenal this time period. The midfielder received extra duels (9) and tackles (three) than another participant within the first leg as she helped Arsenal dominate possession.
Nonetheless, Caldentey is up in opposition to one other serial winner in Lindsey Heaps – often called Lindsey Horan earlier than switching to her married identify – in the course of the park..
Regardless of being compelled to accept much less possession by Arsenal, Heaps illustrated her significance to the French giants by kickstarting the assault for Lyon’s second objective on the Emirates with a midfield-splitting go to Hegerberg.
Lindsey Heaps and Mariona Caldentey’s contact maps throughout Arsenal’s first leg in opposition to Lyon [BBC]