Chelsea claimed a valuable point in the Champions League on their head coach Sonia Bompastor’s return to face her former team, on a night where the English side’s controlled performance merited significant plaudits, even if the match itself was surprisingly low on goalmouth action.
The French side had scored eight times in their first fixture in the league phase, away against the Swiss side Servette, and had in fact scored at least seven times in all four matches they had played in all competitions this season. Given that formidable form and the confidence in the hosts’ frontline, Chelsea were grateful to Hannah Hampton for her sharp save from Salma Paralluelo on 20 minutes, and similarly glad to see Melchie Dumornay’s powerfully-struck effort fizz just wide of the base of the post a few minutes later.
Veerle Buurman also did well to produce a last-ditch challenge to block Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s effort from inside the area, as Jonatan Giráldez’s side continued to generate the better first-half chances. In fairness, though, Chelsea still matched their opponents in the midfield. It was a relatively even, albeit disappointingly dull, first 45 minutes.
Lexi Potter, buoyed by the receipt of her first senior England call-up on Tuesday, gave as good as she got in the physical battle in midfield and generally appeared at home on this stage, at the record eight-time European champions, which will have been pleasing for Sarina Wiegman. The 20-year-old, alongside her compatriot Keira Walsh, helped Chelsea maintain an element of control. It was the English side with the majority of the possession – they were just lacking a decisive edge in attack, although Melvine Malard – facing her former club – was demonstrating her quick feet and lively leading the attack.
Unlike in England, where Chelsea played – and won – a fiery derby against Arsenal on Sunday, the top French sides were able to rest at the weekend, in between the first two European fixtures, as the French league helps its sides stay fresh for the Champions League. Other French top-tier sides played in the League Cup instead. It was therefore reasonable to assume that Lyonnes might look the stronger as this contest went on.
It was Chelsea, however, who started the second period the brighter. They thought they deserved a penalty when Tarciane took out Sjoeke Nüsken at the far post, just as the Chelsea midfielder looked certain to score, but after a check on the monitor, Lucy Bronze had been interfering with play from an offside position as the ball was crossed. Tarciane was booked for her challenge, nonetheless.
Bompastor, who won this competition as a player and a manager with Lyonnes and remains a popular figure in these parts, brought on Lauren James for Malard, to give her side a different forward dynamic with just over half an hour remaining, while Lyonnes introduced a former Ballon d’Or winner in Ada Hegerberg, but neither side was looking likely to break the deadlock, as the off-the-ball qualities of both teams appeared to be cancelling each other out. A cautious approach, from Chelsea in particular, was understandable; this was, by a significant distance, the toughest-looking fixture of their league phase matches, against last season’s runners-up.
Lyonnes, owned by the London City Lionesses and Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang, have high ambitions to try and win this title this term. They thought they had scored on 72 minutes, when Paralluelo struck a low shot into the bottom corner, but the offside flag was raised. Just a few minutes later, a moment of real controversy arose, as Chelsea were awarded a penalty for a foul by Damaris Egurrola on James.
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After a video assistant review, the decision was overturned with the referee appearing to conclude that James had made contact with Egurrola rather than the other way around. The Lyonnes midfielder, though, looked very fortunate to escape, having mistimed her tackle and having missed the ball completely. Chelsea were exasperated.
James had Chelsea’s best chance late on but her close-range strike was blocked by Maria Grohs in goal, before Hampton saved superbly from Hegerberg at the other end, as the match finally came to life in the very late stages and Maika Hamano dragged narrowly wide deep into stoppage time.
The point gave Chelsea a platform to build on, with four points from their first two games.
