Champions League: VfL Wolfsburg women challenged at OL Lyonnes

AUDIO: VfL Wolfsburg faces tough test in Lyon (1 min)

After the 1-0 win in the first duel last week, VfL coach Stephan Lerch now expects the French to storm in the second leg on Thursday (9 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter).

“Hopefully we can show a similar performance to the first leg. But we know that it will be a tough game in Lyon,” says Lerch. “We have to be focused from the first minute and defend with everything we have to offer.”

Stina Johannes is allowed to play

In the first leg, the “She Wolves” inflicted their first defeat of the season on the French series champions. Of course, OL Lyonnes doesn’t want to let that happen. In order to be as well rested as possible, eight regular players were rested in the most recent league game at the weekend (2-2 against Strasbourg).

Women’s Football Champions League: All games and the results of the final round.

Lerch, on the other hand, will still have to do without his injured striker Alexandra Popp. Goalkeeper Stina Johannes, who was last shown a red card in the 3-3 draw against Union Berlin, is eligible to play. She is “only” suspended for the next two Bundesliga games.

Record duel in the Champions League

VfL Wolfsburg and OL Lyonnes have met twelve times in the Champions League so far. This is a record in the history of this competition. The “Wolfs” were only able to win three of these duels. On Thursday they will go into the race again as outsiders.

But: “We have the momentum on our side,” emphasizes national player Vivien Endemann. And Lineth Beerensteyn, who scored the 1-0 goal in the first leg, added: “If we show the same fighting spirit as in the home game, we can make life very difficult for them.”

Should VfL defend their narrow lead, they will face either Arsenal or Chelsea in the semi-finals (April 25/26 and May 2/3).

Possible lineups

OL Lyonnes: Endler – Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha – Dumornay, Egurrola, Heaps – Diani, Hegerberg, Chawinga
VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes – Bjelde, Dijkstra, Küver, Linder – Huth, Minge, Zicai – Peddemors, Beerensteyn, Endemann

Women’s Bundesliga

The midfielder is moving from her Bundesliga rivals to the “Wolves” next season. She is the number two signing there.

Football Bundesliga

The defensive player struggled with injury problems for a long time, but still impressed with the “Wolves” and made it into the DFB team.

World Cup qualification

National coach Christian Wück is relying on proven talent for the games against Austria on April 14th and 18th. There are no newcomers in the squad.