Arsenal vs Lyon LIVE: Women’s Champions League team news and updates

It was the half-time team talk to turn a tie, and save a season. Whatever Renee Slegers said, Arsenal emerged from the break to tear Real Madrid to pieces, scoring three goals in 14 minutes to reach the Women’s Champions League semi-finals at a canter.

Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Arsenal turned it around with a 3-0 victory that flattered the visitors. The Gunners are the first team since 2018 to overturn a two-goal deficit and, with a semi-final against eight-time winners Lyon to come, the power of the Emirates was apparent again in this competition, delivering another rousing night.

Alessia Russo scored a brilliant brace in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Real Madrid in the second leg and the England international will be available to play against Lyon.

Both Russio, who has six goals across eight matches in the Champions League this season, and team-mate Chloe Kelly were injury doubts after they failed to feature in Arsenal’s Women’s Super League victory against Leicester on Tuesday.

But Renee Slegers said: “Alessia and Chloe will be fully available tomorrow so that is great. Both players have been working really hard with the medical team to get to this point so that they will be available for a lot of minutes.”

Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly are available after recovering from the injuries they picked up while on England duty – but goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar has been ruled out so Manuela Zinsberger may be required to step in.

Former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg returned to help fire Lyon into the semi-finals but may not start with Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga established in the front line. With France’s Wendie Renard in defence and Lindsey Heaps of the United States in midfield, Lyon have plenty of experience at this level.

The Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg will kick off at 12:30pm BST on Saturday 18 April at the Emirates Stadium.

The match will be shown live on TNT Sports and a live stream will be available for subscribers on Discovery+.

Arsenal host Lyon in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals at the Emirates as the Gunners look to reach their first European final since 2007.

To get there, they will have to defeat eight-time champions Lyon, who were runners-up to Barcelona last year.

Renee Slegers’ side were in impressive form in coming back from two goals down to defeat Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

They will look to use the power of the Emirates again against the French side, who are managed by former Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro.

Arsenal were last champions of Europe in 2007, which was the last time an English club won the competition. They could face Chelsea in the Lisbon final with the Blues playing Barcelona in the other semi-final.