Thank you so much for joining me for this match. Lyon will want to make sure they right their performance when they face Brann again next week but they will be happy they have bagged three points. Brann can take heart from the performance but will want at least a draw next week, a steep feat to achieve. If they lose again to Lyon they will still be in a good position to qualify for the quarter-finals. Join us again tomorrow when we take you through Chelsea v Hacken until then have a good evening.
If you want a recap of all the goals from this game, DAZN have put together a handy highlights reel. Have a watch:
All Goals from Lyon vs. Brann 🔥#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/hZyB8sSGKL
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
Brann can take heart from this evening’s result. They managed to score against Lyon in the Women’s Champions League, the result between St Polten and Slavia Praha (a 0-0 draw) boosts their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals and Signe Gaupset’s performance was impressive.
In the other game Benfica beat Eintracht Frankfurt after Marie-Yasmine Kaidou scored a stunner, watch it:
MARIE ALIDOU WITH A WONDER GOAL! ☄️
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
The super strike puts Benfica up 1-0 at home.
🏴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/FvucdQsEdO
🇩🇪 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/chcGkwyOok
🇵🇹 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/DeDe9IH4jz #UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/NJtKiTfiB6
Here are the second half goals:
Kadidiatou Diani with the composed finish for her brace 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
🏴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/tnCZJ9Y0hq
🇫🇷 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/UHm8bo04Gz
🇳🇴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/1bJLGM7J4e#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/CsXMOlhzN7
Justine Kielland sets SK Brann on the comeback trail 💥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
It's the first goal Lyon have conceded in the UWCL group stage since MD2 of last season versus Juventus!
🏴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/tnCZJ9Y0hq
🇫🇷 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/UHm8bo04Gz
🇳🇴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/1bJLGM7J4e#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/v1ioHbU74z
Full time! Lyon 3-1 Brann
Lyon take all three points but they will be far from happy with the performance tonight. Diani scored twice and Hegerberg added another but Kielland grabbed one back. Lyon top the group though no matter the shaky performance.
90 + 3 min: Lyon continue to waste chances and they are really slowing down play here, they have come unstuck since conceding. They have created chances still but they just haven’t been able to execute.
90 + 1 min: Eide Lie stands over the free kick and goes straight for goal but it’s well wide. There will be four minutes added.
90 min: Mbock does really well in the box to dispossess Brann, they are really putting Lyon under pressure. Kielland pops in a shot but Endler collects. Brann win it back though and Marozsan is handed a yellow card and gives away a free kick.
88 min: The corner is whipped in by Kielland but Lyon manage to head away. Brann win back possession but they are offside.
87 min: Swierot, who is making her WCL debut at just 17, has a good turn on the ball but her pass to Carpenter has too much on it. Brann counter quickly and they win a corner with Sombath seeing the ball out of play.
85 min: Morroni has too much on a pass to connect with Majri, Van de Donk puts her head in her hands in frustration. Despite being 3-1 up it’s clear Lyon have left a lot of goals out there this evening.
83 min: They take it short and it takes a while for them to work it into the box, it comes to Morroni but she is well dispossessed and Brann can clear.
81 min: Lyon have found their feet once again after conceding, they are back to dominating play. Majri takes a shot but it’s deflected out and Lyon have another corner.
79 min: The comeback isn’t on just yet as Lyon win the ball back but the back three definitely look more shaky since captain Renard was replaced. Lyon counter though and it’s sent into the area and Van de Donk misses a chance by a whisker.
77 min: Brann are the lowest ranked side left in this competition and so to score that goal is impressive, considering St Polten and Slavia Praha haven’t scored against the eight-time winners. The goal has also ignited their confidence, they are being patient on their attack. Could we see a comeback?
75 min: That is the first goal Lyon have conceded in the Women’s Champions League group stage in six games. It was a lovely team move and they completely outfoxed Lyon’s defence.
GOAL! Lyon 3-1 Brann (Kielland, 74')
A lovely move and Brann have scored.
73 min: Dabritz takes the corner but it doesn’t meet a teammate and Brann are able to initially clear. It comes to Renard but the visitors deal with the threat once again. Lyon make another change with Renard off for Sombath.
71 min: It remains 0-0 between Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt. Back to this game and Carpenter wins a corner as her shot is deflected.
71 min: Van de Donk appeals for a penalty as she is taken down in the box but nothing is given. Lyon are relentless and they remain in possession and are on the hunt for their fourth.
69 min: End to end football at the moment with Lyon unable to find fluency to their game.
67 min: Apologies, the yellow card was for Lund for that challenge on Bacha, not Eikeland. Lyon make another change with Hegerberg off for Swierot.
64 min: Scrappy play from both sides in the midfield as they both fight for possession, Brann come away with it but are pinned in their own half. They eventually wriggle away from Lyon but then a loose pass sees the chance go begging.
62 min: Lyon are not happy to settle with just three and they keep coming forward, this time though Carpenter is dispossessed on the edge of the box.
60 min: A triple change for Lyon as Diani, Egurrola and Bacha are off for Marozsan, Majri and Mbock. Bacha put her head into her shirt as she limped off following that challenge, I’ll have a look after the game for any updates on if she has an injury.
58 min: Carpenter has been doing a lot of the work in the background in this one. She has been creating plays, being the link between the midfield and the forwards, a great performance from the Australian. Lyon come forward again and Bacha looks to break but she’s hauled down, a yellow card given to Eikeland.
56 min: A long build-up from Lyon as Brann’s defenders press their opposition. Dabritz finally crosses in but Mikalsen punches away.
54 min: The corner is whipped in and Egurrola heads it wide, she has had at least three shots narrowly miss. Lyon are in a shooting mood now and Diani takes the latest, it rolls out of play though.
52 min: Crummer fouls Hegerberg and Lyon have a free kick, they take it but Ostenstad sees it out for a corner.
51 min: Lyon are coming forward again and they almost score twice! A huge moment, Mikalsen take a bow. Diani laid it off when she should have taken the shot herself, the keeper stopped it and Dabritz got on the rebound but the shot stopper halted it again.
49 min: A deft pass to Diani, she runs into the box and slots home. It had been all Brann in the early stages of this second half but Diani’s goal will be a killer blow.
GOAL! Lyon 3-0 Brann (Diani, 48')
That was lethal.
47 min: Diani protests for a free kick after she is tackled but nothing is given.
Back underway! Lyon 2-0 Brann
The action is back underway. Can Lyon see this one out? Or can Brann stage a shock comeback? All to come.
In the other game Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt are in a 0-0 deadlock, I will update you on anything from that game as it happens.
Here are the first half goals:
Lyon out to an early lead courtesy of Kadidiatou Diani ⚡#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/TsYzyfZzDG
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
Ada Hegerberg takes it off the defender and finishes with ease 👊#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/b7mETch6Ql
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 13, 2023
Lyon’s Ellie Carpenter told DAZN at the break: “We are happy we started off with two goals, we knew it was important to start strong. We need to be more clinical. I think they are good on the transition, we need to stop that before it starts.”
Half-time! Lyon 2-0 Brann
So far it has been all Lyon apart from a few moments for Brann. Diani opened the scoring with a well worked goal and Hegerberg finished off an easy shot.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added.
45 min: Tynnila was playing with a cast on her wrist after breaking it and so she may have had an issue with that, a strange time to make a change with half-time so imminent.
44 min: A slight lull has settled on the game in the last few minutes, the sting of Lyon’s attack not hitting but the hosts do continue to try and thread attack together. Lyon have been utterly dominant in this first half, some glimpses of good play from Gaupset but Brann have been unable to convert it into a goal. A first half change for Brann as Stenevik comes on for Tynnila.
42 min: Bacha takes the set piece ball and Renard connects but it is well wide from the captain. Brann immediately counter and they manage to work it in the box but Lyon’s scramble defence does enough to repel the danger, Brann showing glimpses of their threat.
40 min: A really patient build-up play and there’s great skill from Van de Donk but Hegerberg can’t control a shot. It comes back to Van de Donk though and her shot is saved by Mikalsen but Lyon have a corner.
38 min: Gaupset gets Brann forward again, she makes an amazing amount of metres. She lays it off to Crummer but her shot is over the bar – Brann’s best chance of the game so far.
36 min: Lyon thread a play together again but Bacha is ruled offside, just some simple things not going right for the eight-time winners this evening. A scary thing to contemplate as they seem at 70% but are still 2-0 up.
34 min: Lyon win it back and are quick to create something, Bacha crosses into the box but it’s scrappy and the hosts can’t get a shot away. It comes to Morroni who takes a long range shot but it smacks the post. And again they come so close! Egurrola finds Dabritz but her attempts is just wide.
32 min: Brann have some great work in the box which all comes from another break from Gaupset, she is playing really well and is the light behind everything bright for the visitors.
30 min: Brann win another corner, this time from good work by Crummer. It’s popped in but Renard heads away. Brann have looked brighter now they have conceded two, playing as though they have nothing to lose.
28 min: The corner is taken but Endler plucks it out of the air.
27 min: Brann win their first corner after Gaupset has an electric run, she just keeps on going and she takes a shot which is deflected out for the set piece.
26 min: Brann look to strike back here with Gaupset putting in two quick fire shots but Endler reads it well to collect.
24 min: The goal came from really poor play out the back from Brann. They hesitated in the box and Hegerberg pounced, she tapped home and scored her 61st goal in 64 appearances in the competition.
GOAL! Lyon 2-0 Brann (Hegerberg, 23')
Hegerberg adds to her record!
22 min: Lyon work it in the final third, they pass to Egurrola whose shot is way wide. Some of these plays are questionable from Lyon, if they were more patient over the build-up they could be two or three up by now.
20 min: The corner is whipped in but the header from Egurrola is straight at Mikalsen. Lyon, unsurprisingly, have recovered the ball quickly and are back in possession.
18 min: Diani close again! She has a good run on the side of the area and looks to cross, Mikalsen gets a touch to it and it’s out for a corner.
18 min: There is some frantic but effective defending in the box from Brann, the ball pinballed around but they eventually get it clear. Brann are yet to throw a real punch in this encounter, they will have to knock some stuffing out of Lyon if they want to get anything from this.
16 min: That was so, so close! A shot came in from Lyon and while Mikalsen stopped it, she didn’t control and the ball almost fell into Hegerberg’s path. Luckily for the keeper her defenders cleared before the record scorer to get on the end of it. All I can hear on this coverage is the drumming and singing fan, what are your thoughts on club bands? Let me know via email.
14 min: The hosts come again, this time through Bacha but her cross is headed clear by Gaupset but it doesn’t keep Lyon away from long with Diani crossing in. Bacha attempts to get on the end of it but she is caught, no penalty given despite jeers from the crowd.
12 min: Dabritz finds the ball at her feet in the midfield and makes a great run but she takes the shot too early and Mikalsen collects easily.
11 min: Brann recover well from Lyon’s constant attack and set off on their own, Lund crosses into the area but Renard heads away.
9 min: Morroni is tackled and she stays down, play continues until Renard puts it out. She is okay to continue and Lyon pounce straight into action, Hegerberg is found in a one-on-one with Mikalsen but the keeper comes out on top.
7 min: Brann will be frustrated with that, they had started well but Diani was allowed too much space and in that situation the Frenchwoman will punish sides.
GOAL! Lyon 1-0 Brann (Diani, 6')
A lovely pass from Egurrola finds Bacha, she chips and Diani pounces – what a hit.
6 min: Dabritz takes the free kick but it is well read by the Brann defenders.
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.
Updated
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.
Updated
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.
