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Arsenal v OL Lyonnes: Women’s Champions League semi-final, first leg – live | Women’s Champions League
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Key events
12 mins: A long ball over the top forces Endler to sprint out of her box and head clear. There is a half chance to shoot from about 50 yards but the option is declined.
10 mins: Both teams have settled quickly. Lyon are penalised for an offside, it wasn’t particularly tight because she was half a yard onside. We just need the officials to settle and we could be in for a decent game.
8 mins: Lyon make it into the Arsenal box and just before Hegerberg can get a shot away, Fox puts in a tackle and earns a goal kick thanks to a ricochet.
6 mins: Arsenal are enjoying a good spell of possession but Russo cannot find a pass through the Lyon defence.
Another attack builds and concludes with Foord dragging a shot wide from inside the box.
4 mins: Lyon put on some pressure but Arsenal break up field through Fox but the attack comes to an end when Smith is tackled.
2 mins: Not much happening in the opening stages.
Gordon emails: “For me, Lyon will take this semi final. They will not gift Arsenal three goals over the tie as they did in last year’s semi- finals. Also, Arsenal are fortunate to have McCabe playing today; she should, of course, have been sent off for a hairpull against Chelsea in the last round, and be suspended for this match. Bayern Munich player Kett was red-carded for a hairpull yesterday in the other semi, and she’s suspended from the second leg v Barcelona.”
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
No Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly on the bench for Arsenal, leaving the bench looking quite light.
Renee Slegers: “We had really good collaboration with England, she was ready for 45 mins against Iceland, she did really good and came back ready. I am really happy she is available today.
“It will never be easy in a semi-final of the Champions League. I have huge respect for Lyon. We want to embrace this moment and give it everything we have.”
Jonatan Giraldez: “We know we have to do a lot of good things.
“I love the pressure, it is the energy I need to move forward. I am very honoured to have possibilities like this.”
It is a huge boost for the Gunners to have Williamson back in the heart of defence. Could this be the inspiration they need to beat Lyon at home for the first time?
A lovely day for a semi-final.
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Pre-match reading.
Starting lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Russo, Little, Caldentay; Smith, Blackstenius, Foord
Subs: Votikova, Borbe, Laia Codina, Maanum, Pelova, Hinds, Holmberg, Harwood
Lyon: Endler; Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Svava; Shrader, Heaps, Yohannes; Diani, Hegerberg, Brand
Subs: Belhadj, Bacha, Junttila Nelhage, Dumornay, Becho, Katoto, Egurrola, Fathallah, Sombath, Chawinga, Benyahia, Tarciane
Referee: Desiree Blanco (Sui)
Preamble
It is the holders versus the competition’s most successful side, making this a rather exciting prospect for all involved. With the prospect of chasing down Manchester City in the WSL, this looks like the Gunners’ most likely source of silverware this season. Lyon have already been victorious at Arsenal this season, defeating them at Borehamwood in the league phase but the Emirates should provide a different prospect for the French side for a team who are 14 points clear in Ligue Feminine and are yet to lose in any competition all season.
The Gunners have not lost in the league since October and eliminated Chelsea in the last round of the Champions League, so will be unperturbed by the reputation of the visitors. It should make for a cracker!
Kick-off: 3.30pm BST
