From its first Champions League meeting in Prague on Tuesday (0-9), Olympique Lyonnais scored almost as many goals as in its entire group stage last season (ten goals in six matches). A crazy statistic which symbolizes both an extremely lenient draw (Slavia Prague, SK Brann and St. Pölten) and the great start to the season for the eight-time European champions. We had to go back to the 2019-2020 edition of the C1 to find traces of a Lyon success with more than five goals difference (9-0 and 7-0 against the Russians of Riazan then 7-0 against the Danes from Fortuna Hjorring).
Since then, Wendie Renard’s partners seemed to gradually less terrorize their opponents, until this brilliant demonstration in the Czech Republic, marked by the doubles of Vanessa Gilles (17th and 80th) and Kadidiatou Diani (24th and 45th). “We make an impression but the ambition is to finish first and win all our matches in this group stage,” announces Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor.
“This OL is on another planet”, believes Patrice Lair
Eliminated in the quarter-finals by Chelsea last spring (0-1 then 2-1, and 3-4 on penalties), with a feeling of injustice, their players have turned everything around since the end of the World Cup in Australia. Victorious in the Trophée des champions against PSG (2-0), they were notably able to win at their two main rivals in D1, namely at the Parc des Princes against PSG (0-1) then at Charléty against Paris FC (1-6) on November 5. The results are clear for the relentless title holder: seven victories in seven championship matches, with 31 goals scored and only two conceded.
Greater Lyon definitely seems to be back at the top, thanks in particular to the arrivals of Kadidiatou Diani and Melchie Dumornay on the offensive level. “Compared to PSG and PFC, this OL is on another planet,” confides Bordeaux coach Patrice Lair, double European champion in Lyon in 2011 and 2012. In my opinion, this team is even above Barça, It’s so crazy this year in terms of its squad depth. » A madness which must lead this group to Bilbao, on May 25, for a ninth coronation in the Champions League.