The Parisiennes must regret having conceded three completely avoidable goals but can also consider reversing the situation on the return, next Saturday at the Parc des Princes, by finding a more secure defensive base.

PSG had not lost since their 6-1 defeat in the league at Décines-Charpieu against OL on November 14, in the midst of Kheira Hamraoui who had destabilized the Parisian club at the time.

The midfielder, still involved in an incident in training on Saturday with Sandy Baltimore, was not called up to face Lyon.

And we cannot say that this new episode was the cause of the defensive problems of PSG and its goalkeeper, Barbora Votikova.

After a catastrophic performance, the Czech still saved her team at the very end of the match by repelling a recovery from Ada Hegerberg after additional time (90+5).

Marie-Antoinette Katoto had opened the entry mark for Paris by finding the opening despite a reduced angle, but very badly closed, by Christiane Endler after a ball lost by Kadeisha Buchanan in front of Sandy Baltimore and Däbritz (6).

Paris Saint-Germain striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto beats her Lyon counterpart Melvine Malard in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on April 24, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

OL equalized fairly quickly on a penalty converted by Wendie Renard, whistled for a foul by Votikova on Melvine Malard which she had just badly repelled, in the middle, a recovery from a cross from the right of Delphine Cascarino (22) .

Lyon captain and defender Wendie Renard equalizes from the penalty spot against Paris Saint-Germain, in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, on April 24, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

After a failed clearance, Votikova was also not decisive in front of the American Catarina Macario served by Ada Hegerberg (33) who could have added, shortly after, with a header, a third goal just before half-time in taking advantage of a new hesitation, on a corner, from the PSG goalkeeper (45 + 2).

A disagreement between the latter and defender Paulina Dudek allowed Macario, behind the action, to bring the score to 3-1 at the start of the second half (50).

The joy of American midfielder Catarina Macario, who scored twice for Olympique Lyonnais, in the 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on 24 April 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

A penalty that changes everything

Olympique Lyonnais, leader of the French championship with five points ahead of PSG (2nd) three days from the end, thus took full advantage of the approximations of the Parisian defense.

But Paris Saint-Germain managed to close the gap on a penalty converted by Dudek, awarded with the help of video assistance for a handball mistake by Melvine Malard on a ball taken over by Katoto (3-2, 57) .

For the rest, the meeting was quite lively with the Lyonnaises still on the initiative and who deserve their victory over the Parisiennes who only had the opportunity to open the scoring.

Olympique Lyonnais captain and defender Wendie Renard clears the ball in front of Paris Saint-Germain striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, during the first leg semi-final of the Champions League, on April 24, 2022 at Groupama Stadium in Décines -Charpieu JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

In the end, Endler, the Lyon goalkeeper, who was not decisive either, on the opener, conceded two goals without having made any saves in the match but these two goals left PSG alive before the return match.

And Katoto almost equalized in added time, with a shot passing just above (90 + 4).

© 2022 AFP