1 month ago
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Tom Garry
Thousands of white, reddish and bluish flags were near connected nan seats for nan Ol Lyonnes supporters and they are waving their aloft now arsenic their squad jog disconnected nan transportation astatine nan extremity of their warmup. The ambiance is building nicely. There are besides astir 600 Arsenal fans precocious nan guidelines other us, making themselves heard.
Gordon successful Aberdeen writes in:
double quotation markTo my mind, Arsenal’s occurrence successful Europe has been mostly based connected study of nan opposition, and stopping them playing by marking, protect positional play, and blocking passing lanes. Lyonnes request to outpouring a tactical astonishment connected Arsenal coming successful bid to triumph this tie. Starting Dumornay is simply a measurement towards that - but persisting pinch Hegerberg, truthful ineffectual successful nan first limb v Arsenal and some QF games v Wolfsburg, is inexplicable. Katoto is nan existent starting striker for France, and would beryllium a overmuch greater threat to nan Arsenal defence.
A reminder of really that first limb went:
As Alessia Russo prepares for different Champions League semi-final, there’s a trophy named aft her that’s up for grabs.
Here’s Tom Garry’s preview.
double quotation markMichele Kang rebranded nan nine from Lyon to OL Lyonnes past twelvemonth and spent importantly past summer, adding prima names specified arsenic nan France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Lily Yohannes, arsenic good arsenic hiring Giráldez, a Champions League-winning caput coach. They are unbeaten successful nan French apical section truthful their toughest situation comes successful Europe and, to a degree, it feels arsenic if their play has been gearing up for Saturday’s showdown.
Arsenal are unchanged from nan first leg. If it ain’t collapsed … Lyon make 2 tweaks, pinch Melchie Dumornay and Selma Bacha starting.
The teams
OL Lyonnes: Endler, Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha, Heaps, Dumornay, Yohannes, Diani, Hegerberg, Brand
Subs: Belhadj, Marchal, Becho, Shrader, Katoto, Egurrola, Sombath, Svava, Tarciane, Rafalski, Ouazar, Olivier
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Russo, Little, Mariona, Foord, Blackstenius, Smith
Subs: Votikova, Borbe, Laia Codina, Maanum, Kelly, Pelova, Hinds, Holmberg, Dixon
Preamble
Wait a 2nd … I’ve seen this 1 before. It vanished 2-1 astatine nan Emirates successful nan first limb of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final pinch Lyon past year, too. That clip information it was nan French broadside who had nan one-goal cushion heading into nan 2nd leg, but Renée Slegers’ squad triumphed 4-1 astatine nan Groupama Stadium earlier making history successful Lisbon.
What now for nan defending champions? They person nan advantage this clip aft Olivia Smith’s victor past weekend, and a 7-0 midweek triumph against Leicester added to nan joy. But Lyonnes transportation continental prestige, 8 Champions League trophies successful nan cabinet, pinch Melchie Dumornay expected to return aft missing retired successful nan first leg. She’s already delivered against Arsenal this season. We get going astatine 2pm BST.
