Key events
5 min: Some sloppy passing from Lyon letting them down at the moment, they have the plays but the execution isn’t clinical enough. The hosts set off on another attack but Eikeland challenges Dabritz and she wins a free kick.
4 min: Brann set off on their first attack and Gaupset manages to get into the box but Diani wrestles possession back to clear any danger. Lyon look to take back control of the game but Egurrola makes a weak pass and Eikeland intercepts, she rifles off a shot but Endler collects.
2 min: Lyon work the ball to Bacha who puts in a cross but it hits the top of the net, a good start from the hosts though – showing their intentions early on.
Kick-off! Lyon 0-0 Brann
Here we go, we are underway. Can Brann cause an upset? We will find out over the next 90 minutes.
The players are out at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, who will win this one? I think Lyon will do it, they are just so difficult to stop.
Have you been reading our weekly women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts? If not you should sign up for free, it includes exclusive interviews, insights into the game and guest columnists. This week it focuses upon the women’s game in Egypt, you can read it here:
A fun fact for you, Lyon have won all of the WCL group games against Norwegian teams. Brann will be hoping to break that record this evening.
Full time scores in the earlier kick-offs: Rosengard 0-6 Barcelona and St Polten 0-0 Slavia Praha.
Women’s Champions League record goalscorer and Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg will play against one of her nation’s clubs this evening in Norway’s Brann. Not only is it a club that is from her country but her older sister Andrine plays for them. Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor said: “Ada is very happy to welcome them to the Groupama stadium and to go play there [in Norway] next week. She is very proud to be Norwegian. Facing a team from her country further motivates her.”
So it is that time of year, Christmas shopping is in full flow and I finished mine today – a stress lifted. How far along are you? Let me know via email.
Before Lyon’s third WCL group match they had exciting contract news, Vanessa Gilles is extending her stay at the club until 2025. She arrived in 2022 on loan from the NWSL’s Angel City. She said: “When I first arrived here, I said that no one can say no to Lyon. I didn’t hesitate.”
There are three other fixtures taking place today. Rosengard v Barcelona and St Polten v Slavia Praha has already kicked off. The scores there stand Rosengard 0-4 Barcelona and St Polten 0-0 Slavia Praha, those game are into the second half. The third fixture, Benfica v Eintracht Frankfurt, will kick off at the same time as Lyon v Brann and I will keep you updated on that score as things unfold.
The team news is in! Lyon have opted for a front two with Ada Hegerberg and Kadidiatou Diani leading the front.
Lyon: Endler, Carpenter, Renard, Gilles, Morroni, Van de Donk, Egurrola, Dabritz, Bacha, Hegerberg, Diani.
Brann, meanwhile, have started Larissa Crummer – the forward who scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Slavia Praha last time out in the competition.
Brann: Mikalsen, Anasi, Østenstad, Tynnia, Kvamme, Kielland, Haugland, Lund, Eikeland, Gaupset, Crummer.
Preamble
Good evening and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League, tonight we have a Lyon v Brann.
Lyon, the eight-time WCL winners, are top of Group B but they are only ahead of Brann on goal difference. The French club have so far beaten Slavia Praha 9-0 and St Polten 2-0. Brann, meanwhile, have recorded a 2-1 result over St Polten and defeated Slavia Praha 1-0.
Lyon will be the favourites to win this game and put some space between them and Brann on the group table. But Brann have proved they can grind out results so far this season and are capable of creating an upset – if they did so it would be the biggest of the campaign so far.
We will have a look at the other fixtures taking place today shortly but first the team news. Stay tuned for updates before kick-off at 8pm GMT.
