The Women’s Champions League Semi-Finalists have been decided: Arsenal, Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona and Chelsea. The final four teams will play the first leg of semi-finals on the 19th or 20th of April, with the second leg the following week. A repeat of the 2024 Women’s Champions League Final could still be in the cards, as FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon could meet again. Find out how the teams secured their semi-final spot and what awaits them in the next round.
EINDHOVEN – FC Barcelona with the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy. FC Barcelona women goalkeeper Sandra Panos, Irene Paredes of FC Barcelona, Laia Codina of FC Barcelona, Mapi Leon of FC Barcelona women, Jana Fernandez of FC Barcelona, Claudia Pina of FC Barcelona, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic of FC Barcelona, Marta Torrejon Moya or FC Barcelona, Maria Francesca Caldentey Oliver of FC Barcelona, Caroline Graham Hansen of FC Barcelona, Alexia Putellas Segura of FC Barcelona, Patricia Guijarro Gutierrez of FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll, Aitana Bonmati of FC Barcelona, Lucy Bronze of FC Barcelona, Fridolina Rolfo or FC Barcelona, Salma Paralluelo or FC Barcelona, Geyse or FC Barcelona, Bruna Vilamala or FC Barcelona, Asisat Oshoala or FC Barcelona, Keira Walsh or FC Barcelona, Nuria Rabano or FC Barcelona, Ingrid Syrstad Engen or FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona goalkeeper Gemma Font, Emma Ramirez of FC Barcelona, Maria Perez of FC Barcelona, Vicky Lopez of FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez after the UEFA Champions League Final for Women between FC Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg at Phillips stadium on June 3 2023 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. ANP MAURICE VAN STONE – Photo by Icon sport " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/womenfootball.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/icon\_470815741.jpg?fit=300%2C200&quality=89&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/womenfootball.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/icon\_470815741.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&quality=89&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/womenfootball.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/icon\_470815741.jpg?resize=4697%2C3131&quality=89&ssl=1" alt class="wp-image-306">
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Confident win for Olympique Lyon
Olympique Lyon faced Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. The German club has never reached the Women’s Champions League final and saw their hopes dashed when Lyon won the first leg 0-2. The French club secured the away win thanks to the goals from Chawinga and Dumornay.
Bayern Munich tried to level the score quickly in the second leg. It started well, as Bühl opened the scoring, but Lyon quickly put a stop to Bayern’s momentum in the second half. Dumornay, Diani and Chawinga scored in a matter of 16 minutes. Hégerberg dealt the final blow in stoppage time. Lyon won 6-1 on aggregate.
Arsenal comes back from two-goal deficit
Arsenal had to overcome the same obstacle as Bayern Munich: a two-goal deficit. In the first half, The Gunners were unable to pull one back and had to stay on their toes to prevent Real Madrid from extending their lead.
Whatever head coach Renée Slegers said during half-time, it worked. Arsenal came storming out the gates in the second half, opening the scoring after just one minute, thanks to Alessia Russo. Mariona Caldentey doubled the lead, and Russo scored the match-winnin goal.
Semi-Final Arsenal vs. Lyon
Now, Arsenal and Olympique Lyon will face off in the semi-finals on the 19th or 20th and 26th or 27th of April (times to be determined and subject to change). Arsenal has already sold more than 12,000 tickets in 24 hours. The Gunners will need all the support they can get as they face the record title holder in the Women’s Champions League.
Arsenal and Lyon faced off in 2011 and 2022 in the Women’s Champions League. The Gunners have won one out of four encounters: an incredible 1-5 win, with goals scored by Mead, Foord and Maanum. All the other victories have gone to Lyon.
Brutal defeat for VfL Wolfsburg against Barcelona
VfL Wolfsburg was defeated 10-2 on aggregate by FC Barcelona. The Wolves, once considered one of the best women’s football clubs, has seen the effects of a lack of investment in recent years. The club won the Women’s Champions League in 2013 and 2014 and reached the final in 2016 and 2020.
FC Barcelona, the defending champion, showed why they hold that title. Scoring ten goals over two matches is an impressive feat. In the first leg, Paredes, Paralluelo, Schertenleib and Dijkstra (OG) put Barcelona in the lead. During the return, Paraluello scored twice, Brugts found the net and so did Pina (2) and León. FC Barcelona will now face Chelsea in the semi-finals.
Chelsea played the perfect first half
Just like Arsenal, Chelsea had to overcome a two-goal deficit. They played against a very familiar opponent: Manchester City. Nick Cushing’s side won the home leg, thanks to Miedema’s goals.
Sonia Bompastor sent her side into the match with a clear gameplan and one magic word: ‘Believe’. Chelsea had the fans behind them at Stamford Bridge, lifting them up and giving them that little extra to open the scoring. Sandy Baltimore was the first to find the net, followed by a header from Nathalie Björn and a goal from Mayra Ramírez. It earned Chelsea a 3-2 victory on aggregate.
Semi-Final Chelsea vs. Barcelona
A repeat of the semi-finals in 2024: Chelsea vs Barcelona. The Spanish club won 1-2 on aggregate but played almost the entire second half against a 10-player team. Kadeisha Buchanan received a second yellow. This sent her off with a red card and gave away their one-goal advantage they earned in the away game at Barcelona.
Out of the four competitive meetings between Chelsea and FC Barcelona, the English team only managed to win once. This season both teams have new head coaches this season. Sonia Bompastor is the only coach and player to have won the Women’s Champions League, and she will now face Pere Romeu’s side. Romeu took over from Giraldéz, who left to coach Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
The Women’s Champions League Semi-Finalists go head-to-head on the 19th or 20 of April and the return on the 26th or 27th of April.