Champions League rivals Arsenal and Lyon share lengthy and tangled historical past
Arsenal are again within the UEFA Girls’s Champions League semi-final for the second time in three seasons and can face French champions Lyon, rekindling one of the crucial storied rivalries within the historical past of the competitors.
The 2 sides first met within the 2007/08 UEFA Girls’s Cup, the forerunner to as we speak’s event. Arsenal, reigning champions on the time, secured a 0-0 draw on the previous Stade Gerland, dealing with a Lyon facet captained by none aside from present Chelsea supervisor Sonia Bompastor.
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Vic Akers made only one change from the staff that had received the sextuple the earlier season, with Faye White changing Ciara Grant alongside Anita Asante in central defence. The marketing campaign led to disappointment for Arsenal, following the highs of 2006/07.
The away leg was memorable for different causes. Lyon supervisor Farid Benstiti travelled to Meadow Park midweek to scout Arsenal in a match in opposition to Watford. “Watford are actually unhealthy,” he mentioned after watching a straightforward first half for Arsenal, earlier than the match was deserted as a consequence of a break-in that noticed valuables stolen from the dressing room.
Within the return leg, Lyon received 3-2 in depressing circumstances. The guests had been pressured to start out their third-choice goalkeeper, Emeline Mainguy, with each Bente Nordby and Veronique Pons injured. Involved by Arsenal’s aerial risk, Lyon workers mentioned their tactical method at half-time – over cigarettes – subsequent to the lads’s bogs.
Arsenal targets got here from Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith, whereas Elodie Thomis scored the decisive aim on the break. Lyon workers reportedly referred to Meadow Park as a “potato area”. The match coincided with England males’s notorious defeat to Croatia at Wembley – “the wally with the brolly” evening.
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In 2008/09, the groups met once more in a round-robin group performed in Limonest, on the outskirts of Lyon. Arsenal defeated Neulengbach 6-0 and Zürich 7-2 earlier than dropping 3-0 to Lyon at Stade Gerland.
The household of Arsenal gamers had been seated amongst house supporters in the principle stand – a choice not appreciated by all, together with Katie Chapman’s husband Mark, who was sat beside me with their youngsters.
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Their subsequent assembly got here within the semi-finals of 2010/11, a 12 months that marked Lyon’s first Champions League title. A crowd of 20,123 witnessed a 2-0 win at Stade Gerland, with Lotte Schelin scoring twice by exploiting the suitable channel behind Arsenal’s defence. Arsenal’s travelling contingent had been this time positioned within the VIP part, full with champagne and amuse-bouche, and had been even caught on Eurosport’s broadcast.
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Between the 2 legs, the FA WSL was launched with an ill-timed inaugural fixture between Chelsea and Arsenal at Imperial Fields, performed on a poor-quality floor. Kim Little sustained an damage that dominated her out of the second leg, which Lyon received 3-2 at Meadow Park.
Solely 500 attended.
After a chronic absence from the latter levels of Europe’s high competitors, Arsenal confronted Lyon once more within the 2022/23 group stage. Regardless of Lyon being high seeds, Arsenal topped the group with 13 factors. Their 5-1 win on the Groupama Stadium was a landmark outcome; Lyon responded with a 1-0 win on the Emirates Stadium.
The general report between the 2 golf equipment now stands at: Performed 7, Received 1, Drawn 1, Misplaced 5, Targets For 9, Targets In opposition to 13.
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This 12 months’s semi-final guarantees a extra balanced contest. Lyon are not the dominant power they as soon as had been. Below new supervisor Joe Montemurro, previously of Arsenal, the membership is trying to return to the free-flowing, attacking soccer that after outlined them.
For the reason that departure of Reynald Pedros, Lyon have remained profitable however adopted a extra bodily, defensive type that has alienated some supporters.
With two attacking sides, and ties to be performed on the Groupama Stadium and the Emirates Stadium, this semi-final guarantees to ship each high quality and narrative.
