In a surprising turn of events, OL Lyonnes faced a 1-0 defeat against VfL Wolfsburg in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final, marking the end of their unbeaten season across all competitions.
The decisive moment came in the 14th minute when Lineth Beerensteyn’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off Damaris Egurrola, catching goalkeeper Christiane Endler off guard. This goal not only gave Wolfsburg a narrow advantage but also halted Lyon’s impressive streak of seven consecutive victories against them, a run that began with a win in the 2017-18 final.
Despite dominating the match with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.91 from 19 attempts, Lyon was unable to convert their chances into goals. In contrast, Wolfsburg managed a mere 0.88 xG from just seven shots, yet it was enough to secure the win.
Lyon’s last defeat in the Champions League had occurred in March 2022 against Juventus, and they had maintained an 18-match unbeaten run in away matches in the competition prior to this encounter.
As the match progressed, Lyon pushed for a late equaliser but were wasteful in the final third, leaving them with the challenge of overturning a one-goal deficit in the return leg at Groupama Stadium next week.
Wolfsburg’s victory not only stunned OL Lyonnes but also set the stage for a tense second leg, where Lyon will need to regroup and strategize to advance in the tournament.
The return leg will be played at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais next Thursday, while Wolfsburg will face Union Berlin at home in the Frauen-Bundesliga four days earlier.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential changes in team strategy or player fitness ahead of the crucial second leg.