UEFA Women’s Champions League: She-Wolves end OL Lyonnes’ unbeaten season

She-Wolves became the first team to beat French giants OL Lyonnes this season as they secured a narrow victory in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie. Including a 3-1 scoreline in the league phase this term, OL Lyonnes had won the previous seven head-to-head games against Wolfsburg.

The hosts had the first chance of the game through the vastly experienced Svenja Huth, but Christiane Endler was equal to it in Lyonnes’ goal. As expected, the record champions dominated the proceedings after that.

However, She-Wolves took the lead out of the blue when Lineth Beerensteyn’s effort from outside the box went all the way after a decisive deflection from Damaris Egurrola. The Dutch international also had a decent chance to double Wolfsburg’s lead, but her header missed the target at the half-hour mark.

OL Lyonnes were far more dangerous going forward after the restart. Haitian international Melchie Dumornay came very close to tying the score inside the first ten minutes before Kadidiatou Diani was denied by the post.

Jonatan Giráldez’s side tried to increase the pressure as ex-Wolfsburg winger Jule Brand was introduced as part of a double substitution by the former Barcelona Femení coach at the hour mark.

However, the visitors were restricted to half chances for the rest of the game. Despite several set-piece opportunities, OL Lyonnes failed to further test Stina Johannes, with their best chance a 90th-minute header from substitute Marie-Antoinette Katoto before Brand's weak effort in the game's last action.

The return leg will be played next Thursday at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. Wolfsburg will face Union Berlin at home four days earlier in the Frauen-Bundesliga. While the men’s team are languishing in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga, She-Wolves are edging closer to reach the Champions League semi-final for the ninth time.