Arsenal Women vs Lyon Feminin: Preview, predictions and lineups
- Arsenal host Lyon in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final
- Gunners looking to end lengthy wait for European silverware
- Lyon looking to secure ninth title in the competition
Arsenal host record eight-time Women's Champions League winners Lyon in the first leg of their semi-final on Saturday lunchtime.
The Gunners are aiming to win the competition for the first time since 2007 - having not even reached the final since then - but face an almighty hurdle as they seek to secure their place in the showpiece event.
Renee Slegers has excelled since taking charge of the north London outfit and helped them complete an impressive turnaround to reach the final four. Having lost the first leg of their quarter-final 2-0 to Real Madrid, Alessio Russo inspired the Gunners to a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium in the return fixture.
Arsenal will want to channel such a mentality when they host Lyon on Saturday, with the French giants having already clinched the Premiere Ligue title. Last year's runners-up haven't lost in regulation time in any competition all season and the Gunners will need to produce the performances of their lives across two legs to reach the final against either Barcelona or London rivals Chelsea.
Here is 90min's guide to the first leg.
What time does Arsenal vs Lyon kick off?
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Emirates Stadium
- Date: Saturday 19 April
- Kick-off time: 12:30 BST / 07:30 ET / 04:30 PT
- Referee: Ionela Alina Pesu (ROU)
- VAR: Catalin Sorin Popa (ROU)
Arsenal vs Lyon H2H record (last five games)
- Arsenal: 1 win
- Lyon: 4 wins
- Draws: 0
- Last meeting: Arsenal 0-1 Lyon (15 December 2022) - UWCL
Current form (all competitions)
Arsenal | Lyon |
|---|---|
Arsenal 5-1 Leicester - 15/04/25 | Lyon 2-2 Paris FC - 12/04/25 |
Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal - 30/03/25 | Lyon 4-0 Fleury Merogis - 30/03/25 |
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid - 26/03/25 | Lyon 4-1 Bayern Munich - 26/03/25 |
Arsenal 4-0 Liverpool - 22/03/25 | Saint-Etienne 0-5 Lyon - 22/03/25 |
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal - 18/03/25 | Bayern Munich 0-2 Lyon - 18/03/25 |
How to watch Arsenal vs Lyon on TV - UK & US
Country | TV channel/livestream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App, DAZN UK |
USA | DAZN USA |
Canada | DAZN Canada |
Arsenal team news
Arsenal will welcome key forward duo Russo and Chloe Kelly back into the fold after the pair missed the midweek thrashing of Leicester City in the Women's Super League. "They will be fully available, so that's great," Slegers beamed during her Friday press conference.
First-choice stopper Daphne van Domselaar also missed the win over Leicester having sustained an injury on international duty but won't be available for the first leg. Manuela Zinsberger is expected to continue between the sticks.
Lotte Wubben-Moy is a major doubt for the clash, too, while Lina Hurtig and Laia Codina are expected to miss out.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Lyon
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Lyon (4-3-3): Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Maanum; Caldentey; Kelly, Russo, Foord.
Lyon team news
Former Arsenal coach Joe Montemurro will be able to name an incredibly strong starting XI to face Arsenal and should welcome Melchie Dumornay back into the fold. The 21-year-old, who scored twice in quarter-final victories over Bayern Munich, missed last weekend's draw with Paris FC but should be available.
Dumornay is just one of an array of world-class attacking threats, with Kadidiatou Diani leading the competition for goals and assists - boasting nine in total this term. Eugenie Le Sommer, Ada Hegerberg and Tabita Chawinga are others Arsenal must stop at the Emirates.
Wendie Renard missed the clash with Paris FC following a foot injury and will be assessed on the morning of the game.
Lyon predicted lineup vs Arsenal
Lyon predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-3-3): Endler; Carpenter, Gilles, Renard, Bacha; Marozsan, Heaps, Egurrola; Diani, Dumornay, Chawinga.
Arsenal vs Lyon score prediction
Both sides enter the first leg in tremendous form and will be confident of their chances in a gargantuan encounter. Arsenal must avoid defeat to realistically progress but Lyon could prove a challenge too great.
The French side have lost just once all campaign - that coming on penalties - and have been utterly dominant in the Champions League. Arsenal may find the attacking firepower of their visitors too ferocious.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
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