Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes: Gunners and French Giants Rekindle Champions League Rivalry
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Can Lyon Continue Good Form in London Tonight?
Arsenal are looking to become the first English team to reach back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals this season, but standing in their way are the French giants Lyon, who know what it takes to get results in the English capital.
The Gunners confirmed our Women's Champions League predictions last season by winning the title, but they were made to work for it, particularly in the semis, after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the French Lionesses here on the N5 in the first leg of the tie.
Renee Slegers’ side turned the tables emphatically at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais a week later with a commanding 4-1 victory, thanks to goals from Alessia Russo, Caitlin Foord, Mariona Caldentey and an unfortunate own-goal by Christiane Edler.
The North Londoners have now won eight of their last 10 UCL home games. However, the two defeats they conceded in this period were against Lyon!
Indeed, after last season’s semi-final first leg triumph on N5, Jonatan Giraldez’s team notched up a 2-1 victory on Matchday 1 in this season’s League Phase at Meadow Park, with Daelle Melchie Dumornay bagging a brilliant brace to overturn Russo’s opening goal of the match.
While the Gunners open this fixture as the marginal favourites, it is Lyon that holds the advantage in the head-to-head standings. In the 10 previous meetings between these sides in UEFA competitions, the French giants have recorded seven wins to Arsenal’s two (D1).
Additionally, the reigning Premiere Ligue champions went unbeaten in the League Phase of this season’s UCL before overturning Wolfsburg in the quarter-final. Arsenal, meanwhile, missed out on automatic qualification to the quarter-finals, losing two of their six League Phase matches (W4).
How Will the Gunners Fare Without Beth Mead and Steph Catley?
Coming into the first leg of this season’s Champions League semi-final, Arsenal have suffered a few major setbacks, with Steph Catley and Beth Mead both ruled out of the crucial matchup. Speaking on Catley and Mead’s availability at the pre-match press conference, Slegers confirmed:
"No, they won't be available. Steph is still recovering from her calf issue. So hopefully we'll see her later on. Beth is not with us, hasn't been with us this week because of personal reasons.”
As discussed in greater detail in our Arsenal vs Olympique Lyon prediction, the Gunners will also have to make do without the services of Manu Zinsberger, Katie Reid, Michelle Agyemang and Kyra Conney-Cross. However, Leah Williamson is expected to make her return to the squad from a hamstring injury.
Still, Slegers has plenty of class at her disposal, and one player that many Arsenal fans are looking to have a big outing is Stina Blackstenius, who was handed a new contract by the club after starring for the team in their quarter-final first-leg victory over London rivals Chelsea last month.
The Gunners’ back line will also have to deal with Lyon’s impeccable attack, led by last season’s Women’s Champions League Young Player of the Season, Melchie Dumornay. The Haiti international has scored three goals in her last two away games against Arsenal in Europe’s top-tier cup competition.
Arsenal vs. Lyon: Last 5 Head-to-Head Results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 07.10.2025 | Arsenal Women 1-2 Lyon Women |
| 27.04.2025 | Lyon Women 1-4 Arsenal Women |
| 19.04.2025 | Arsenal Women 1-2 Lyon Women |
| 15.12.2022 | Arsenal Women 0-1 Lyon Women |
| 19.10.2022 | Lyon Women 1-5 Arsenal Women |
