Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain Women and Lyon Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
On Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain Women will face domestic rivals Lyon Women in the second leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
Lyon will travel to the Parc des Princes with a slender lead after they produced a stunning comeback to claim a 3-2 win in the first leg.
Match preview
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PSG spurned the chance to establish a first-leg lead after they gave up a two-goal advantage in last Saturday’s away clash with Lyon.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto netted a brace to put PSG in a promising position, before Lyon staged a remarkable late turnaround to score three goals in the space of six minutes.
As a result of the 3-2 defeat, the Parisians have work to do to reach their third Champions League final and their first since 2016-17.
Gerard Precheur opted to make wholesale changes for Wednesday’s 1-1 league draw against city rivals Paris FC, leaving PSG without a win in three competitive matches.
However, the hosts can draw inspiration from the fact they have won four of their five European home games this season, including each of their last three against Roma, Ajax and Hacken.
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Having won their last 10 Champions League semi-finals, Lyon are on the verge of extending that fine record after they showed great character to turn the first leg in their favour.
Former PSG forward Kadidiatou Diani pulled a goal back in the 80th minute, before Melchie Dumornay and Amel Majri scored within a minute of one another to clinch a memorable 3-2 win.
Sonia Bompastor‘s charges went on to record an eighth consecutive victory in Wednesday’s home game against Guingamp, with Maeline Mendy and Vicki Becho grabbing a goal apiece to clinch all three points.
Lyon will now turn their focus back to Champions League action as they look to protect their first-leg lead and keep their hopes alive of winning a ninth European trophy.
The record winners have won five and drawn one of their last six competitive meetings with PSG, and another positive result on Sunday would secure them a place in next month’s final in Bilbao.
Paris Saint-Germain Women Women’s Champions League form:
Paris Saint-Germain Women form (all competitions):
Lyon Women Women’s Champions League form:
Lyon Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts are still expected to be without the services of Pauline Dudek, Oriane Francois and Clare Hunt due to injury.
Precheur could make at least one change to the side that started the first leg, with Thiniba Samoura in contention to start after featuring as a half-time substitute in Lyon.
Having scored six goals in her last six club appearances, Katoto will be looking to continue her fine form when she lines up against Lyon in Sunday’s second leg.
As for the visitors, they may have to cope without Sara Dabritz, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Ada Hegerberg and Eugenie Le Sommer.
After rotating her squad at the weekend, Bompastor could be tempted to revert back to the side that started the first leg.
Diani will continue to provide one of Lyon’s main attacking outlets after scoring four goals across her previous four club appearances.
Paris Saint-Germain Women possible starting lineup:
Picaud; Gaetino, De Almeida, Samoura; Le Guilly, Geyoro, Groenen, Baltimore, Karchaoui; Chawinga, Katoto
Lyon Women possible starting lineup:
Endler; Carpenter, Mbock, Renard, Bacha; Horan, Egurrola, Dumornay; Diani, Cascarini, Becho
We say: Paris Saint-Germain Women 2-2 Lyon Women
After producing an entertaining first leg, we think the two sides will conjure up more goals in Sunday’s return leg, but with Lyon renowned for their success in this competition, we think the record winners will hold PSG to a draw and seal their place in the final.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.