Wolfsburg vs OL Lyon: Women's Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg Preview

Welcome to our comprehensive preview of the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg between Wolfsburg and OL Lyon. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 6:45 PM CET from the Wolfsburg Arena.

A Classic Encounter: Wolfsburg vs. OL Lyon

This fixture marks the 12th confrontation between these two European giants, a record for the competition alongside OLL-PSG. They last met earlier this season in the league phase, with OL Lyon securing a 3-1 victory in France on Matchday 3. Ada Hegerberg's brace (25th, 30th minute) gave the hosts an early lead, before Wendie Renard (72nd minute penalty) added a third in the second half, with Lineth Beerensteyn (80th minute) scoring a consolation goal for the visitors.

Historically, Lyon has largely dominated this rivalry, boasting eight victories in their eleven previous encounters, including three consecutive wins. Notably, these two clubs have faced each other in four Champions League finals. Wolfsburg claimed the first in 2013 (1-0), but Lyon triumphed in the subsequent three: 2016 (1-1 A.E.T., 4-3 P.K.O.), 2018 (4-1 A.E.T.), and 2020 (3-1).

Wolfsburg's Recent Struggles Against French Teams

Wolfsburg's record against French clubs has been mixed. While they secured a convincing 4-0 home victory against PSG on Matchday 1 of this season's league phase, this stands as their only win in their last seven encounters against French opposition (2 draws, 4 defeats).

Lyon's Unbeaten Run and Wolfsburg's Path to the Quarters

OL Lyon enters the quarter-finals directly after an impressive league phase performance. They finished second in their group with 16 points (level with Barcelona), maintaining an unbeaten record with five wins and one draw (against Juventus). Wolfsburg, who finished ninth in their league phase group with nine points (3 wins, 3 defeats), earned their spot in the quarter-finals by defeating Juventus 4-2 on aggregate in the knockout round playoffs.

A Legacy of European Dominance

Both clubs possess formidable European pedigrees. Wolfsburg, a two-time Champions League winner, notably secured back-to-back European titles with victories against Lyon in the 2013 final and Tyresö the following year.

OL Lyon holds the unparalleled record for most European titles, having been crowned champions an astonishing eight times in 11 finals. Their most recent triumph was a commanding 3-1 victory over FC Barcelona in the 2022 final in Turin.

Quarter-Finals: A Familiar Stage

For OL Lyon, reaching the quarter-finals is a regular occurrence. This marks their 17th appearance at this stage of the Champions League, a record they share with Arsenal. Wolfsburg, with 13 quarter-final appearances, holds the record for a German club.

Lyon's Quest to Reclaim European Glory

Despite holding the record for most Champions League victories (8, ahead of Barça's 3), the prestigious trophy has eluded Jonatan Giraldez's Lyon squad since 2022. Last year, the team, led by captain Wendie Renard, was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winners Arsenal, fueling their determination to reclaim European supremacy this season.

OL Lyon's Classic Starting XI

Coach Giraldez has opted for a familiar and strong lineup for the first leg:

Goalkeeper: Endler
Defenders: Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha
Midfielders: Dumornay, Egurrola, Heaps
Forwards: Diani, Hegerberg, Chawinga