An elimination of OL and PSG before the semi-finals would be historic, as Lyon has dominated this competition for years, winner eight times of the cup "with big ears" between 2011 and 2022.

The Parisiennes have reached the last four six times, including in the three previous editions (2020, 2021, 2022) and have been finalists twice in 2015 and 2017, without ever winning the competition. We have to go back to 2014 to find an edition without a French club in the semi-finals...

Less brilliant this season especially because of several absences, Lyon and Paris had already complicated the task by finishing second in their group during the group stage. And the quarter-final first leg, lost 1-0 by both clubs at home, did not help their European season.

At Stamford Bridge (21:00), OL's mission is to topple the Blues, who have already fallen twice from PSG in the group stage (1-0 and 3-0).

In addition to its attacking stars, Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby, the English team has a solid defence and has conceded only one goal this season, against Real Madrid.

Especially the Lyonnaises, without several of their injured stars (Macario, Hegerberg, M'Bock), were too little dangerous last Wednesday, apart from a beautiful strike from Delphine Cascarino, who hit the post.

The Ballon d'Or 2018 Ada Hegerberg, injured for several months, returned to the competition and scored Saturday against Guingamp in D1 (6-0).

Kadidiatou Diani, borrowed?

Beaten by Wolfsburg (1-0) in the first leg at the Parc des Princes after being reduced to ten for more than thirty minutes, the Parisiennes will also have to win Thursday (18:45) in Germany.

© OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP/Archives

The Germans, qualified for their eleventh consecutive quarter-final in C1, nevertheless seem within reach of the Parisiennes, like a first leg match dominated by the players of Gérard Prêcheur, but lacking efficiency.

"Wolfsburg is a beautiful team, prestigious at international level, maybe they did not in the first leg made the performance they are able to make but result they won, in a particular circumstance," said the Parisian coach, Wednesday in a press conference, expecting a "motivated team to come and press us".

"We have planned how we will play in relation to this," especially on the "mental that will take up a lot of space," he added.

Sunday in the league, the Parisiennes, second just behind OL, were not completely reassured in front of goal, after their difficult victory in Montpellier (1-0).

Their star striker Kadidiatou Diani seemed borrowed by a complicated extra-sporting context. His companion and sports advisor, César Mavacala, is being prosecuted for extortion in an organized gang, suspected of having pressured PSG to obtain the signature or extension of its players.

After missing a penalty, she was sent off late in the game following a moody gesture with goalkeeper Lisa Schmitz. Diani is expected to react on Thursday, unlike defender Elisa De Almeida, who was ruled out in the first leg.

In the semis, if Lyon were to qualify, they would meet FC Barcelona easily qualified after its victory at Camp Nou on Wednesday against AS Roma 5-1 (1-0, in the first leg).

Paris would challenge Arsenal who toppled Bayern Munich in the quarters, beaten 1-0 in the first leg, but winning 2-0 in the return.

The semi-finals of the Women's Champions League are scheduled to be held on April 22 and 29.

© 2023 AFP