Women’s Champions League: Advantage Lyon and Barça

With the road to Budapest close to reaching its conclusion, both Lyon and Barcelona hold single-goal leads going into next Sunday’s Women’s Champions League semi-final second legs, and are within touching distance of reaching the final, which is being held in Budapest on 18 May.

There was plenty of Hungarian interest in the Lyon-Chelsea encounter at the OL Stadium in Decines, Dzsenifer Marozsán – albeit she is a German international – has Hungarian heritage, and referee Katalin Kulcsár and her assistant Katalin Török were among the match officials.

Reigning champions Lyon took a 27th minute lead in their home match against Chelsea, Magdalena Eriksson putting through her own net. The French side were two goals up by the 39th, Marozsán’s corner being converted by Amandine Henry. Chelsea squandered a great opportunity to get back into the match just before the break, Fran Kirby failing to score from a penalty, but the Londoners eventually got a goal back in the 72nd minute, 20-year-old Scottish forward Erin Cuthbert the scorer. Lyon pressed in search of a possibly all-crucial third goal, but Chelsea held firm, and with an away goal to take into the second leg, the tie is still wide open.

Bayern München hosted Barcelona in the other semi-final, both sides attempting to reach their first ever Champions League final. French midfielder Kheira Hamraoui proved the match-winner, netting the only goal of the game for Barcelona in the 63rd minute, giving Bayern much to do in the second leg at the Mini Estadi this coming Sunday.

Semi-final second-legs (Sunday 28 April):

Barcelona–Bayern München (12.00) Chelsea–Lyon (15.00)

The final is being held on 18 May at the Groupama Aréna in Budapest. Tickets are still available for the premier event of the year in women’s football and can be purchased at meccsjegy.mlsz.hu.