Preview: Lyon Women vs. Brann Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Record Women's Champions League winners Lyon Women will look to maintain their 100% record in the 2023-24 season when they play host to Brann Women on Wednesday.

Lyon, who sit top of Group B, are currently level on six points with their second-placed opponents, who have made an impressive start to their European campaign.

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Match preview

Lyon are proving to be an irresistible force this season, having won all 13 of their competitive matches, including their opening two group games.

The eight-time Women's Champions League winners began their European campaign with an emphatic 9-0 victory over Czech First Division champions Slavia Prague.

They followed that statement win with a 2-0 victory in their home meeting with St Polten thanks to a Danielle van de Donk strike and a Leonarda Balog own goal.

Since their success over the Austrian champions, Lyon have gone on to claim two comfortable league victories, cruising to a 5-1 win against Guingamp before beating Lille 5-0 to leave them top of Division 1 Feminine with a five-point cushion over second-placed Paris FC.

Having won their six competitive home games by a 26-1 scoreline, Sonia Bompastor's side will go into Wednesday's contest as the overwhelming favourites to claim maximum points.

Brann, meanwhile, had never appeared in the final 16 of any format of the Women's Champions League before they booked their place in this season's main draw with qualifying victories over Lokomotiv Stara Zagora, Anderlecht and Glasgow City.

The Norwegian side have shown that they truly belong in the group stage with wins against St Polten and Slavia Prague in their first two matches.

After beginning the main draw with a narrow 2-1 win over the Austrian champions, Brann went on to win 1-0 in their home meeting with Slavia Prague thanks to Larissa Crummer's 21st-minute effort.

Although Brann currently enjoy a six-point gap over St Polten and Slavia Prague, they know that they have their work cut out to add to their current tally in back-to-back games against the French champions.

With the visitors preparing for a tough test, they can take inspiration from the fact that they have lost just one of their last 15 competitive matches (W11, D3).

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Team News

Lyon will be unable to call upon Haiti international Melchie Dumornay, who recently underwent surgery on an ankle injury.

Long-term term absentee Delphine Cascarino remains unavailable, while Selma Bacha, Kadidiatou Diani and Eugenie Le Sommer are doubts for the midweek contest.

Having scored 10 goals in 11 competitive appearances, Ada Hegerberg will look to add to her tally when she lines up against Brann.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Hegeberg's sister, Andrine Hegerberg, who has not played since July due to an injury issue.

Finnish duo Nanne Ruuskanen and Joanna Tynnila are set to miss out through injury, while Rikke Nygard is a long-term absentee.

After scoring the winner against Slavia Prague, Crummer will offer Brann's main goal threats, and she could be joined in the front three by Signe Gaupset and Rakel Engesvik.

Lyon Women possible starting lineup:

Endler; Carpenter, Gilles, Renard, Morroni; Van de Donk, Egurrola, Horan; Majri, Dabritz, Hegerberg

Brann Women possible starting lineup:

Mikalsen; Stenevik, Ostenstad, Anasi; Eikeland, Kielland, Haugland, Lund; Gaupset, Engesvik, Crummer

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We say: Lyon Women 2-0 Brann Women

After winning their opening two group games, Brann will travel to France in a confident mood, but we think that their unbeaten start to the main draw will come to an end when they face the French champions, who boast a wealth of world-class talent in their ranks.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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