The UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals get underway Saturday, because the final 4 groups within the combine battle to get to the ultimate in Oslo on May 23.
It’s defending champions Arsenal vs. eight-time winners OL Lyonnes and final yr’s finalists Barcelona vs. German giants Bayern Munich. We’ve seen these matchups already earlier than this season however, now stakes are even larger, how will these video games play out throughout the 2 legs?
Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes is a well-recognized fixture over the previous yr, what’s completely different for the groups this time?
Since these sides met in final season’s semifinal (a 5-3 win on mixture for Arsenal), lots has modified behind the scenes, but a lot stays the identical. Both squads are largely intact in contrast to the accidents that have been plaguing them final season, and after they crossed paths within the first sport of the league section (a 2-1 win for Lyonnes), their tactical setups nonetheless echoed final yr’s strategy.
Twelve months in the past, Arsenal overturned a 2-1 first-leg defeat thanks to a commanding 4-1 efficiency within the second leg. It was a sample they’d adopted within the quarterfinal towards Real Madrid, suggesting the crew was rising snug when confronted with adversity. This time, nonetheless, the underdog narrative feels much less convincing.
Arsenal’s emphatic playoff win over OH Leuven (7-1 on mixture) and composed 3-2 victory towards native rivals Chelsea over two legs — arguably their hardest check up to now — paint the image of a aspect with better management and expectation. That expectation is the important thing distinction.
As reigning champions, Arsenal are now not chasing; they’re the goal. Every opponent are measuring themselves towards them, and that shift in narrative essentially alters the stress on the London aspect.
For Lyonnes, there has additionally been evolution. Since Jonatan Giráldez’s arrival in September, the tactical construction has sharpened. While organized opponents have uncovered occasional vulnerabilities, their attacking energy — arguably the strongest within the competitors — stays as ruthless as ever.
Despite their eight titles, Lyonnes haven’t lifted the trophy since 2022. Recent seasons have mirrored a aspect caught between legacy and transition: decided to reassert themselves as Europe’s dominant pressure, but typically struggling to preserve tempo with the competitors’s rising commonplace. This semifinal, then, carries vital weight. Lyonnes are pushed to show their period of dominance isn’t over, whereas Arsenal are intent on exhibiting they aren’t one-hit wonders. — Emily Keogh
2:19
Krieger: Arsenal can beat OL Lyonnes in UWCL with out Williamson
Ali Krieger provides her prediction for the primary leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinal between Arsenal and OL Lyonnes.
Arsenal are defending champions, however does that matter?
Arsenal’s efficiency of their quarterfinal win over Chelsea was indicative of a crew that know what it takes to grind out tight European ties. They took their possibilities, have been defensively sound, had the steadiness of luck predominantly on their aspect, and had a terrific goalkeeper to boot.
Up entrance, they’d Alessia Russo operating the present, however their win was down to their midfield: the unbelievable potential of Mariana Caldentey and Kim Little to run matches with the assistance of their collective expertise. Even with captain and key defender Leah Williamson absent, Arsenal by no means regarded flustered and confirmed a mentality just like the one which guided them to the UWCL title final yr. Having that have to your identify counts for an terrible lot at this level of the competitors.
While type and logic counsel Lyonnes and Barcelona are higher groups general, Arsenal’s standing as reigning champions gives them an emotional buffer to draw on if wanted — that is priceless and is one in every of sport’s nice unquantifiable belongings.
Arsenal will probably have to beat the most effective two groups within the competitors if they’re to retain their title, however they’ve shocked Europe as soon as and understand how to do it once more. — Tom Hamilton
1:40
Will Bayern be taught their lesson from Barcelona’s 7-1 demolition?
Lianne Sanderson and Ali Krieger preview Bayern vs. Barcelona within the Women’s Champions League semifinals.
Not a lot, funnily sufficient, which tells you a bit in regards to the high quality in Barça’s crew. They have coped properly for big spells of the marketing campaign with out a few of their greatest gamers, dispelling, for now, issues that having a small squad might scupper their season.
Patri’s absence between October and January was properly lined by Laia Aleixandri, whereas the lack of Bonmatí — who’s closing in on a return from a damaged leg — in December has given wings to younger midfielders like Clara Serrajordi and Vicky López. Of course, the timing of Guijarro and Bonmatí’s accidents has been comparatively favorable as a result of, just a few fixtures apart, all of Barça’s large video games begin now. The secret’s having them match and prepared for the semifinal and, probably, the ultimate of the Champions League.
Patri, who picked up a small knock with Spain just lately, needs to be at her greatest; Bonmatí might initially be utilized in a backup position as she returns within the coming weeks, though she’s unlikely to settle for that with out a struggle. After all, she did not let viral meningitis preserve her out of the UEFA Women’s European Championships final summer season.
But even when one or the opposite is lacking, Barça will not be fazed. They will merely roll out a crew that also consists of, amongst others, Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen and Ewa Pajor. — Sam Marsden
What, if something, can Bayern Munich do to cease Barcelona?
Barcelona’s final assembly with Bayern, a 7-0 victory firstly of this season’s league section in October, served as a stark reminder of their high quality. Despite falling quick in final season’s last, they seem revitalized and as formidable as ever. Indeed, they continue to be the benchmark on this competitors. But they aren’t untouchable, as Arsenal demonstrated final season.
That last win in Lisbon was a mix of perception and tactical precision; dropping Caitlin Foord into midfield created overloads which disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm, whereas Stina Blackstenius capitalized on the one large second that the Gunners wanted her to. It was a efficiency constructed on self-discipline and execution.
For Bayern to replicate that sort of show would require close to perfection. There is all the time little margin for error towards Barcelona and, with a comparatively inexperienced supervisor in Jose Barcala and restricted time to implement his concepts, the size of the problem is plain. Defensive lapses — one thing Bayern have proven at instances on this marketing campaign — might be punished, and their assault have to be medical, regardless of an absence of consistency this season.
Still, they possess the capability to trigger any crew issues. Their greatest shot at preserving Barcelona at bay is to decrease the injury within the first leg, sit again and defend, then hit them on the counter assault. There isn’t any use making an attempt to play Barcelona at their very own possession-heavy sport, so so long as they’re nonetheless in it forward of the second leg they might push the three-time winners to their limits. — Keogh
1:49
Graham Hansen: Barcelona is concentrated on successful the UWCL
Caroline Graham Hansen on Barcelona’s UWCL semifinal conflict towards Bayern Munich and the crew’s focus within the competitors.
Predictions, please …
Keogh: I believe will probably be a repeat of 2023 last in Bilbao between OL Lyonnes and Barcelona this time round in Oslo. It is hard to name the tie between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, however with 5 video games within the WSL nonetheless to play and a number of other accidents to cope with, Arsenal might not have sufficient throughout two legs. Lyonnes’ want feels too nice, plus Giraldez will pressure Arsenal to be at their absolute best to get something from the sport.
Meanwhile, as a lot as I like an underdog story, I do not assume Bayern have sufficient to defeat the Barcelona.
Hamilton: I’ve lengthy backed OL Lyonnes to find yourself successful this complete match, however I believe we might find yourself having an Arsenal-Barcelona last. Lyonnes have had matches the place they’ve loved nearly full dominance, however they have been wasteful in entrance of aim. Arsenal have been ruthless, and, as I stated above, they’ve recency bias on their aspect.
I believe their tie with Lyonnes might be extremely tight, and it is as shut to 50-50 as you will discover at this stage, however I simply fancy Arsenal to get by way of. On the opposite aspect of the draw, Barcelona walloped Bayern Munich 7-1 again in spherical one of many competitors, nevertheless it’s going to be far nearer this time round. Bayern have Pernille Harder in great type, and so they’ll hope to have the spectacular Klara Bühl again, however Barca are clear favourites for that tie.
Marsden: Barça will not wallop Bayern like they did within the group stage — or will they?! — however they’ll have an excessive amount of for them over two legs. And in the event that they go into the return sport needing a outcome, a crowd of over 60,000 at Spotify Camp Nou needs to be sufficient to get them over the road as soon as once more.
As for the opposite semifinal, it is a coin flip. Tom is true, there have been indicators that perhaps Lyonnes have some weaknesses we did not count on, however I believe the depth of high quality they’ve within the squad will permit coach Giráldez to ebook a last towards his outdated crew.
