Arsenal progressed into the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in style after staging an incredible comeback to beat Olympique Lyon 4-1 at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday.
After bowing to a 2-1 loss at home against the French giants a week ago, Renee Slegers’ produced one of the audacious results in the European women’s club competition to seal their place in Lisbon for the final on May 24.
The North London visitors showed utter determination to turn their fate around right from kick-off with instant pressing and control of the game flow which left Lyon sitting back.
Arsenal got rewarded for their early domination in the fifth minute when goalkeeper Caludia Endler deflected Frida Maanum’s header into her own net.
The lead was doubled just on the stroke of half-time by Mariona Caldentey with a beautiful right-footed effort from outside the penalty area, off Alessia Russo’s assist.
Immediately after the restart, the Gunners continued from where they stopped with Russo scoring the third goal in Lyon with a fine finish after some clumsy defending by the hosts.
The party started in Lyon when Caitlin Foord found the back of the net for Arsenal’s fourth goal to put the game beyond Lyon’s reach even though Melchie Dumornay grabbed a consolation goal for Joseph Montemurro’s side in the 81st minute.
The victory confirms Arsenal’s final game against reigning champions, Barcelona for their second UEFA Women’s Champions League title after the 2007 triumph.
Barcelona are into their fifth consecutive UWCL final after humiliating Women’s Super League leaders, Chelsea 4-1 home and away for 8-2 aggregate score.
Lyon vs Arsenal: What the records say
Arsenal’s 4-1 win against Olympique Lyon was the first defeat conceded by the French giants in all competitions this season since they lost to Barcelona in the UWCL final in May 2024.
The three-goal margin defeat was Lyon’s second-biggest loss in the European women’s club competition after their 5-1 defeat to the Gunners in the group stage back in October 2022.
Three of Lyon’s last four home losses in the Women’s Champions League were against English clubs – Arsenal (2) and Chelsea (1).
Arsenal are UWCL finalists for the first time in 18 years, and the 4-1 win in Lyon was their second comeback win in the competition’s knockout round after overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Renee Slegers was appointed as Arsenal manager in January and five months later, she is the club’s second manager to reach the Women’s Champions League final.
What’s next
Before the UWCL final against Barcelona in Lisbon on May 24, Renee Slegers’ ladies will turn their attention to the Women’s Super League where they are six points behind leaders Chelsea with three matches left.
Arsenal are scheduled to face Aston Villa on Wednesday, April 30 and then travel to Brighton on May 5 before wrapping up their league campaign against Manchester United Women on May 10.
Lyon, however, are crowned French champions as they currently have a 10-point lead above PSG with a game left in the women’s top division.
Montemurro’s ladies will welcome Le Havre to the Groupama Stadium for their final game of the season on May 7.
