Wolfsburg and Barcelona became the first two semi-finalists in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after drastically different quarter-final matches on Friday, while holders Lyon and compatriots Paris Saint-Germain advanced a day later.
Similar to the men’s competitions in Portugal (UEFA Champions League) and Germany (UEFA Europa League), the winner of the 2019/20 Women’s Champions League season will be determined in a nine-day final tournament held in Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal played out a tense and closely-fought quarter-final with the Parisians getting on the scoresheet first when Marie-Antoinette Katoto turned in a superb, one-time volley from a corner kick. Arsenal responded, though, and Beth Mead equalised with a curling, left-footed effort beyond the outstretched right arm of Christiane Endler.
Paris dominated the second half and it was an unlikely goalscorer, substitute Signe Bruun, who scored the winner, timing her run to steer home Katoto’s pinpoint, accurate low cross after the excellent Kadidiatou Diani won the ball back high up the pitch.
PSG will now have to get past French rivals and tournament favourites Lyon to reach a third final in their club history. Lyon edged Bayern Munich in the day’s other quarter-final.
Nikita Parris bravely headed in Lyon’s opening goal right before half-time, beating Laura Benkarth to the ball before getting levelled in the process.
Amel Majri doubled Lyon’s lead on the other side of the half with a beautifully-struck free-kick. It was far from a walk in the park for Lyon, though, and Bayern’s Carolin Simon converted a free-kick of her own to make for a tense finish. However, Lyon did enough to hang on and set up an intriguing all-French semi-final in Bilbao on Wednesday.
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