In front of almost 40,000 people at the Groupama Stadium last Saturday, Olympique Lyonnais took a one-goal lead over PSG after an absolutely insane scenario.
At 2-0 within ten minutes of the match, Sonia Bompastor’s players turned the game around by scoring three fine goals in six minutes (Diani 80EDumornay 84EMay 86E) to win 3:2.
“When it comes to emotions, these are matches that give good publicity to women’s football,” the OL coach told AFP in an interview on Friday, adding that the public “clearly contributed to the fact that we pushed and turned the situation around.”
Mbock uncertain
The D1 leaders are therefore in an advantageous position ahead of the second round at the Parc des Princes this Sunday (16:00) but will have a significant absence in their ranks. As in the first match, Bompastor will have to do without two injured star strikers Eugénie Le Sommer and Ada Hegerberg.
France defender Griedge Mbock, who was released after “feeling discomfort” in Lyon, was unable to start the squad on Sunday.
As for PSG coach Jocelyn Prêcheur, who is still in contention for a title – Coupe de France – Champions League hat-trick like his boyhood counterpart Luis Enrique, he will be able to count on all his senior players to deliver at home. from goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, package. As in the first match, Constance Picaud will be lined up in goal.
To regain the championship on the Paris side…
Last Saturday in Lyon, his team collapsed mentally and physically at the end of the match minutes after the departure of two-time goalscorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
After the match, the coach pointed to the lack of control and composure of his other leaders: “Marie is the manager of the team and the project on and off the pitch, she is not the one who expresses the most, but she has a significant impact,” Prêcheur said, adding that on the pitch they are still “other experienced players”.
…and break the curse
According to captain Grace Geyoro, “a little physical fatigue” set in: “We knew they would get a chance, the public helped them and overcame it, we were a lot more tired, it was complicated for us, but it will help us tomorrow (Sunday),” she supported Frenchwoman.
The Parisiennes will need experience and composure because, in addition to having to win on Sunday, they will have to defy statistics: they have never lost in the semi-finals of the C1 OL against PSG in 2016, 2020 and 2022. the last six double confrontations in the knockout matches of the Champions League, is it’s OL again, who wins: four qualifiers to two.
