Lyon advances over Juventus after 2nd leg win despite a surprising defeat in the first leg. French vice-champions managed to overturn the aggregate score and secured a semi-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 win over Juventus. Bianconere returned to a one-goal deficit but were unable to complete their comeback.
Women’s Champions League, Quarter-final, Leg 2
Thursday, 31st of March
Olympique Lyon – Juventus 3-1 (2-0)
Scorers: 33′ Ada Hegerberg (L), 35′ Melvine Malard (L), 73′ Catarina Macario (L), 84′ Andrea Staškova (J)
Yellow cards: 17′ Cristiana Girelli (J), 45′ Damaris Egurrola (L), 71′ Lindsey Horan (L), 80′ Matilde Skovsen (J)
Juventus – Olympique Lyon 2-1 (0-1)
Lyon started strongly straight from the kick-off and got the first chance already in the 3rd minute, but Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Catarina Macario’s shot from a vicinity. The visitors got the first real chance in the 23rd minute. Barbara Bonansea received the pass around 7 meters from goal but took an extra touch which enabled Kadeisha Buchanan to block the shot just in time. On the other side, Lyon levelled the aggregate score with Ada Hegerberg’s goal. The all-time competition top goalscorer headed Selma Bacha’s cross in at the far post. Just two minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead. This time, Lindsey Horan whipped the cross in the area and Melvine Malard finished it with a nice header.
HT | ⏱ | We trail at the break but we will come back fighting! 💪#OLJuve #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/B4OEn2yv8I
— Juventus Women (@JuventusFCWomen) March 31, 2022
As in the first leg, Juventus found themselves chasing Lyon again, and they needed at least one goal to take the game into extra time. Both teams entered the second half with caution, but Lyon started pushing for the third goal. In the 56th minute, Hegerberg was just a bit too short to get a better shot while sliding in on a cross from the side, and a minute later Lisa Boattin blocked Mbock’s shot from a promising position. The French vice-champions were putting Juventus’ defence under more and more pressure, and it was only the matter of time before they would score again. That happened in the 73rd minute. After a combination on the right flank, Catarina Macario received the ball in the area, span around with a masterful first touch and finished into the far corner. But Bianconere did not give up and got one goal back in the 84th minute, when Andrea Staškova headed a corner cross from Valentina Cernoia into the net. Despite that, the Italian champions ran out of time to get another goal in, and Lyon secured their semi-final spot.
At the end, Lyon justified their role as a favourite, but Juventus showed a brave performance in both legs. In the Women’s Champions League, we will again have the French derby between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain. Last year, the vice-champions came out on the top. How will it be this year?