Since the Conti Cup final loss, the Chelsea Women have been determined to right the ship with its biggest test of the season now on tap next.
This is it. When the Chelsea Women were placed in the Champions League quarterfinal draw a month ago, Lyon was bound to be the opponent. This is the campaign where the Blues put it all together on the highest stage.
Emma Hayes’ side fell dramatically out of European football far too early last season. This time around, this group has the opportunity to put their stamp on women’s football by going through arguably the toughest path to a Champions League title this competition has seen.
Chelsea Women to face Olympique Lyon in Champions League quarters
The Blues are back on track. Arsenal’s one-goal comeback at Selhurst Park did not take the wind out of this team’s sails whatsoever. The Conti Cup has been a competition that is of least importance compared to the other major three Chelsea Women is still competing to collect.
For the second time in both of the club’s histories, the top dog in France will meet the Women’s Super League’s non-stop freight train. Lyon edged the Blues by just one goal last time out in 2019 in the Champions League with a goal by Amandine Henry in the first leg of the tie.
The two teams met in the preseason tournament in Portland, Oregon, but not much can be taken from that. Unlike four years ago, this Emma Hayes side is not frightened whatsoever by the current Champions League holders.
Emma Hayes was able to provide some of her top class players with much-needed rest with Lyon right around the corner.
A good day at the office! 👌#WomensFACup pic.twitter.com/DDuj5JQSce
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 19, 2023
Les Lyonnaises are coming off of back to back wins over FC Fleury 91 in both the league, and the Coupe de France Feminine semifinals. Sonia Bompastor’s side has not lost or drawn a match since December in the Champions League against Juventus.
The Blues have played four matches so far in March compared to Lyon’s three in all competitions. Given the way Hayes rested many of her most vital assets at all levels of the pitch against Reading, the west London side should be more than ready to come out of the gate firing away from home once again.
Erin Cuthbert missed her second consecutive game due to a tight hamstring, but it would not be a surprise to see the Scottish midfield return back to the pitch in such an important game. Without Catarina Macario, and Ada Hegerberg, this team is far less potent in front of net. Norwegian superstar striker Hegerberg is close to coming back from her long-term injury, but for now, it looks extremely unlikely she will play in the first leg in France on Wednesday night.
The leaders in the French top-flight are beginning to find their stride heading into the UWCL quarterfinals.
32-year-old veteran defender Wendie Renard leads Lyon in the goal-scoring department among the French top-flight and Champions League this season. German international Dzsenifer Marozsan has been the consistency goal scoring threat recently.
For the first time since coming back from her injury in the UWCL final last season, Marozsan has found her form. She has netted seven goals in the last six games, and for a Lyon team that just needs to get healthy, this is a sign the Blues do not want to see with the first leg coming up this week.
Lyon had a lot of injuries around the time of the group stage, and now the players are beginning to return. The Blues kicked off their Champions League campaign in Paris a few months ago, and will begin its run starting in the quarterfinal back in the same country. Barcelona will most likely await the winner of this tie, but the west Londoners must not look too far ahead.
The selection will be quite interesting. Will Hayes ride Jess Carter’s form or will Magdalena Eriksson start on the left side? With or without Cuthbert, Hayes has Melanie Leupolz to fill that gap in the midfield while Jelena Cankovic could see the pitch given her creativity with the ball at her feet. For two consecutive weeks, the Blues will go to battle with France’s most prestigious women’s club.
The west London side will have played both Manchester sides, and Lyon in the same month after the March 30 matchup in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. Bompastor’s team has allowed just three goals in the last 11 matches in all competitions led by Renard, and Angel City FC loanee Vanessa Gilles now in the backline.
It is going to be another test of the Blues’ character. The women from southwest France are going to give this team from west London more than they have seen from any other opposition this season. Heading into the first leg, it is almost impossible to predict who will be moving on to the semifinals of the competition. With Graham Potter’s team on an international break, now is the time to watch what the women’s side has to offer in the biggest match away from home all season.