The game: 1-5
Back on the European throne last May, with an eighth crown won against Barça (3-1), OL experienced a nightmarish reunion with the Champions League on Wednesday. The Lyonnaises fell heavily at home against Arsenal (1-5), with an ultra-friable defense and an inability to find solutions in the game. After this surprising slap, a reaction is expected in Turin next week against Juventus, under penalty of being under pressure in group C.
With the carnage currently hitting her workforce (nine injured: Carpenter, Mbock, Gilles, D. Cascarino, Marozsan, Däbritz, Majri, Macario, Hegerberg), Sonia Bompastor appealed before the meeting to the mental strength of her team. But the Lyonnaises quickly showed their limits against sharper and better coordinated Londoners. The difference between Arsenal’s effective pressing and that of OL’s more disjointed one was visible from the start. Lyon was punished twice in less than 25 minutes, on two alignment errors, sanctioned by Foord (13th) and Maanum (23rd).
5
OL Women conceded five goals in a European game for the first time in their history. It is also the first time that a defending champion has conceded five goals in a Women’s Champions League match.
The reaction came from a set piece, when a corner from Selma Bacha was taken at the far post by Lindsey Horan, whose attempt was repelled by the bar but benefited Melvine Malard (27th). However, this jump did not allow OL to come back. The team did not exist offensively in the game, and took a lesson in mastery from Arsenal. Beth Mead broke before the break on a free kick, after a foul by Wendie Renard (45th + 1), and the game turned to correction after the break, when Foord (68th) then Mead (69th) signed a doubled each, facing a totally amorphous team. Apart from the nothingness in creativity, the significant fatigue of the Lyonnaises, outclassed in intensity, challenged.
The player: Mead quickly consoled
Second in the Ballon d’Or on Monday evening, just behind Alexia Putellas (Barça), Beth Mead did not seem too affected by the news. The heroine of the last Euro won by England made OL miserable on her right side, with several devastating starts and above all an enormous composure. After her decisive pass on the opener (13th), she scored a free kick as beautiful as it was vicious, low to the ground, for the goal of 3-1 (45th + 1). His heavy shot from the right left Endler (69th) no chance and gave him a double.