Voss demanding Duisburg response

FCR 2001 Duisburg coach Martina Voss says her team "have no chance at all" against Olympique Lyonnais if they play like they did in the 2-1 home league defeat by FC Bayern München on Wednesday.

League setback
While a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Cup semi-final against the French champions on Saturday was greeted with enthusiasm, the mood has darkened following the Frauen-Bundesliga loss to Bayern. The result has left Duisburg in third place, four points adrift of the Bavarian club and leaders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and stirred Voss into demanding an immediate response from her side.

'Negative result'
"We looked frightened, Bayern won every ball," she said. "Some of our internationals have to question their performance. I slept really badly. We didn't play how we are capable of. We were lacking the will to win and we squandered two great chances. If we play like this against Lyon we have no chance at all. This negative result makes the task against Lyon's internationals even more difficult."

'Big problem'
Having missed the Bayern defeat, Duisburg will at least be boosted by the return of defender Annike Krahn, although goalkeeper Kathrin Lehmann misses the match due to her participation with Switzerland's ice hockey side at the IIHF World Championships in Finland. "If Alexandra Popp is sidelined as well, that will be a big problem," added Voss. Nevertheless, a crowd of 4,000 is expected at the PCC Stadion, much to the delight of chairman Guido Lutz. "We have not had anything like this here before," he said.

'Weaknesses'
OL coach Farid Benstiti attended Duisburg's defeat by Bayern along with defender Laura Georges, who will deputise as captain in place of the injured Sandrine Dusang. "It was interesting to see them playing a league game," said Georges. "We saw their weaknesses and we can pose them a threat if we play our game."

Team changes
Lyon's preparations for the first leg were disrupted by the departure of Camille Abily and Sonia Bompastor to the Women's Professional Soccer league in the United States and they played the first hour without playmaker Louisa Nécib because of a calf injury. Nécib is one of several changes Benstiti may make in a bid to keep possession and ensure they do not fall at this stage for the second successive season, having also been held 1-1 at home in the first leg by Umeå IK a year ago before a 0-0 away draw. "During the first leg we did well physically but we failed in keeping the ball," said Benstiti. "Players like Lara Dickenman and Amandine Henry could help us do that."