- Arsenal (W) have won four of their last five competitive fixtures, scoring goals all over the pitch
- Lyon have 63 points from 20 Division 1 Féminine games this season
- The first leg was won by Arsenal (W), 2-1, in a tightly contested, action-packed clash at the Emirates last month
Lyon are on the attack
The UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final is finely poised going into Saturday’s clash in Lyon, with Arsenal (W) holding a one-goal advantage in the aggregate score after a pulsating first leg in North London last month. The bookmakers have made Lyon clear favorites for the single game at 1.63, which could not be further from the truth, given Arsenal (W) are 4.61 and the draw at 4.1.
Jonatan Giráldez took over as Lyon boss in June 2025 and quickly implemented a possession-based system with an attacking outlook that has reaped immediate rewards in the form of domestic trophies and European momentum. Lyon have 63 points from 20 matches this season, so they know they will need to produce a massive comeback to reach the UWCL final.
Lyon’s system is a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, which can overload wide areas and switch the play at speed. Giráldez has a number of high-quality attackers at his disposal with Kadidiatou Diani and Tabitha Chawinga dominating Division 1 and providing multiple goalscoring opportunities. Melchie Dumornay is a key threat for Lyon, ranking among the top UWCL scorers and regularly sparking their attack from the left, making her the most dangerous player on the pitch in big European nights.
Gunners have plenty of goals in them
Renée Slegers’ Arsenal (W) are a much more collective team, who have mastered the art of high pressing, playing at an aggressive tempo and transitioning the ball at high speed. Slegers has built a team that can play this high-pressing style week in, week out, scoring goals all over the field and giving the opposition as little time and space on the ball as possible.
Arsenal have balanced a deep European run with strong attacking form in the Women’s Super League and come into the second leg off the back of some fine attacking displays. Slegers’ side scored five goals against both Tottenham and West Ham in March before putting three past Chelsea in the first leg of their UWCL quarter-final.
Alessia Russo remains Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions, but the real story has been the emergence of Olivia Smith, who scored the winner at the Emirates to put Arsenal 2-1 ahead in the tie and has become the team’s clutch player in big nights in Europe. Leah Williamson’s return from injury has also helped steady the defensive structure, which will be crucial to keeping Lyon’s multi-pronged attack at bay.
Spoils could go to the visitors
There are no second chances in the second legs of European semi-finals, so every decision and duel will be magnified in importance with bragging rights and a place in the UWCL 2025-26 finals at stake. The fact that the Gunners can score all over the park and have a proven European pedigree in the knock-out stages gives them the edge of belief for this trip.
Lyon have a phenomenal record at home in Europe, but Arsenal have come back from a goal down in recent UWCL knockout ties and will travel with belief that they can do so again. The forecasted thunderstorms in Lyon on Saturday could add to the tension, but Christiane Endler’s presence in goal, along with Lyon’s sheer dominance of their own domestic league, gives them confidence they can take the lead in front of their own fans.
The BTTS - Yes market is a heavy favourite at 1.57 and for good reason as both these clubs have proven they have enough in the locker to hurt each other. A 1-1 draw is the correct score pick because Arsenal cannot afford to be too adventurous in possession, so will likely be content to share the spoils if they can get a goal.
