Women's Champions League
Apr 18, 2021 1.00pm
1
2
HT : 2 0
FT Groupama OL Academy Décines-Charpieu
  • C. Macario 4' goal
  • Onema Grace Geyoro 25' goal
  • W. Renard 61' goal
  • Perle Morroni 66' yellowcard
  • Amandine Henry 73' yellowcard
  • Selma Bacha 90' yellowcard

Preview: Lyon Women vs. Paris Saint-Germain Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Lyon vs. PSG - prediction, team news, lineups

Lyon Women hold a 1-0 aggregate lead over visitors Paris Saint-Germain Women going into their second-leg Women's Champions League quarter-final tie.

This game was originally supposed to be played on March 31 but was postponed due to an outbreak of coronavirus infections in the Lyon squad.


Match preview

Seven-time Champions League winners Lyon, who have also won this competition for the last five consecutive seasons, go into this game on a 14-game winning streak with their last defeat being in November against Sunday's opponents.

At the beginning of April, Lyon confirmed that 10 first-team players had tested positive for coronavirus and the whole squad isolated for the seven-day period required, however president Jean-Michel Aulas was left frustrated when France national team manager Corinne Diacre named Amandine Henry, Sakina Karchaoui and Eugenie Le Sommer in her squad to face Switzerland, England and USA.

The postponement of the second leg means that Jean-Luc Vasseur's side have not played since March 27 when they won 3-0 against Dijon, the goals scored by Saki Kumagai, Catarina Macario and Melvine Malard.

The reigning French champions edged past PSG in the first leg, needing a Wendie Renard penalty four minutes from time to seal a 1-0 win and what could prove to be an important away goal.

Despite defeat, PSG will be confident going into the second leg as they sit top of the Feminine Division 1, four points clear of Lyon in second.

An emphatic 7-0 victory for Olivier Echouafni's side against relegation-threatened Soyaux last time out brought PSG onto 71 goals scored in the league this season.

Lyon have claimed the French league title for 14 seasons in a row and PSG have finished behind them as runners-up on eight occasions, which only adds to the rivalry between the teams and this season has potentially given the Parisians their best chance to claim the title off Lyon.

The difference between the two sides so far this season has come down to Marie-Antoinette Katoto's goal on November 20 which succumbed Lyon to their only defeat of this campaign.

Due to this game being played 18 days after it was planned, Lyon and PSG already have the knowledge of who awaits the winner in the semi-final, as Barcelona beat Manchester City 4-2 on aggregate to book their place in the last four.

Lyon Women Women's Champions League form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Lyon Women form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Paris Saint-Germain Women Women's Champions League form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L

Paris Saint-Germain Women form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

The Lyon squad have all tested negative for coronavirus since coming out of isolation, meaning that Vasseur's side will only be without long-term absentees Ada Hegerberg, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Griedge Mbock, who is suffering from an Achilles injury.

Lyon's most prolific player this season has been England's Nikita Parris, who has found the net 11 times in 15 appearances, and is expected to start on Sunday alongside strike partner Delphine Cascarino.

There are no injury or suspension problems facing Echouafni, and he is likely to name a similar starting lineup to the team that faced Lyon in the first leg.

PSG's reliable back four have helped the Parisians to the best defensive record in France this season, and they will need Perle Morroni, Paulina Dudek, Irene Paredes and Alana Cook to continue that good form as they have never beaten their counterparts by more than 1-0.

Lyon Women possible starting lineup:

Bouhaddi; Karchaoui, Renard, Buchanan, Cayman; Marozsan, Kumagai, Henry; Le Sommer; Parris, Cascarino

Paris Saint-Germain Women possible starting lineup:

Endler; Morroni, Dudek, Paredes, Cook; Dabritz, Formiga, Geyoro; Bachmann, Katoto, Diani


We say: Lyon Women 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain Women

A long enforced break for Lyon, having not played since March 27, may mean that their visitors can take advantage of a potential slow start for the seven-time European champions.

Recent games between the two sides show that the results are often close to call, but an upset may be on the cards for this tie as we back PSG to fight back on Sunday and go through on away goals.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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POLL
Who will win Sunday's Women's Champions League clash between Lyon and PSG?
Lyon Women 56%
Paris Saint-Germain Women 44%
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