Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Benfica Women and Lyon Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
On Tuesday, Benfica Women will welcome Lyon Women to the Estadio da Luz for the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie.
The hosts are competing in the last eight for the first time, while the competition’s record winners are appearing in the quarter-finals for the ninth successive season.
Match preview
Benfica have already made history in Europe this season after becoming the first Portuguese team to secure a spot in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Filipa Patao’s side won two and drew three of their six group matches (D1) to finish in second position and two points clear of third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt in Group A.
Although they were left seven points adrift of group winners Barcelona, Benfica proved they could compete with the teams in the competition when they played out an entertaining 4-4 draw with the European champions in their final group match.
They may have been frustrated with Friday’s league draw with Damaiense, but the Portuguese champions will be pleased with the fact they have now avoided defeat in each of their last 18 competitive matches.
Tuesday’s hosts can also take confidence from their home form in Europe after they won two and drew one of their three home matches in the group stage.
While Benfica are hoping to pull off an upset, Lyon will hope they can successfully negotiate the next two matches to keep their hopes alive of becoming European champions for the ninth time in their history.
The reigning French champions made light work of the group phase, winning four and drawing two of their six matches to finish above St Polten, Slavia Prague and Brann.
Although they are in the hunt for the Champions League trophy, Lyon saw their hopes of lifting the Coupe de France recently come to an end with a penalty shootout defeat to Fleury in the semi-finals.
Sonia Bompastor’s side swiftly exacted revenge to claim a commanding 4-0 victory in Friday’s home league clash with Fleury thanks to a Sara Dabritz brace and goals from Griedge Mbock and Melchie Dumornay.
Lyon will now turn their focus to Tuesday’s trip to the Portuguese capital, and they will be quietly confident about picking up a first-leg victory after winning 11 of their 12 competitive away games this season (D1).
Benfica Women Women’s Champions League form:
Benfica Women form (all competitions):
Lyon Women Women’s Champions League form:
Lyon Women form (all competitions):
Team News
Benfica are unable to call upon 19-year-old midfielder Leticia Almeida, who is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery.
Marie-Yasmine Alidou will provide one of the home side’s main goal threats after scoring four goals across the six Champions League group games.
The Canada international is likely to be joined in the front three by Kika Nazareth and former Lyon player Jessica Silva.
As for the French champions, they are expected to be without defender Wendie Renard and midfielder Amandine Henry due to their respective injury issues.
Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg is also a doubt after being forced off in the Coupe de France clash with Fleury earlier this month.
Dumornay will provide Bompastor with a useful option off the bench, having returned from a spell on the sidelines to feature as a substitute in Lyon’s last three matches.
Benfica Women possible starting lineup:
Pauels; Araujo, Seica, Uchiebe; L Alves, Faria, Gasper, Falcon; J Silva, Alidou, Nazareth
Lyon Women possible starting lineup:
Endler; Carpenter, Gilles, Mbock, Bacha; Van de Donk, Marozsan, Dabritz; Cascarino, Diani, Le Sommer
We say: Benfica Women 1-2 Lyon Women
Benfica proved in their 4-4 draw with Barcelona that they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in Europe, but while that result may inspire confidence among the home squad, we think they could be edged out by a Lyon side that has won 11 of their 12 away matches this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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