Simone seeks change of fortune

Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Simone hopes to "fill a void" created by final defeats in the FIFA Women's World Cup and Olympic Games with victory in the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League when the French club tackle 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in Madrid on Thursday.

The 29-year-old knows all about the qualities of German players – "very strong, fast and motivated" – having been part of the Brazilian team which lost the World Cup final to the Frauen-Nationalmannschaft in 2007. Revenge was exacted in the Olympic semi-finals the following year, before Brazil fell at the final hurdle once again as the United States left Beijing with the gold medals.

"I feel like I need to fill a void by winning this big final now," said Simone, who has won three French titles since arriving from Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano in 2005. "To prevail, we need focus, strength and must not allow them an inch of space. We also need to take our chances to finish the job, as we did at home against Umeå in the semi-finals."

Simone missed the 3-2 first-leg victory in that tie and was an unused substitute in the subsequent goalless draw in the northern Swedish home of the two-time winners as she continued her rehabilitation from an ovarian problem which required surgery.

She returned for the French Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat by Paris Saint-Germain FC on 25 April, playing 20 minutes, and was back among the goals as Lyon won 7-0 at ASJ Soyaux-Charente on Thursday to strengthen their claim for another domestic crown. "I'm back at the right time, for the biggest games, thanks to my team-mates," said the No6.

Coach Farid Benstiti was thrilled to have the defensive player available again. "She's a true holding midfielder," he said. "She's versatile and has the qualities of the great American and German players when it comes to strength, technical skill and control. She's also a lovely and much-respected person."

Simone got Lyon's European campaign under way with the opening goal six minutes into a 3-0 victory against Serbian club ŽFK Mašinac Niš in September, and is now in a position to book end that by scoring for Les Fenottes in the final. "I have to say that whoever scores is not a problem for me, providing it's the goal which wins it for us," she told Lyon's official TV channel. "We're all thrilled to be in the final – it's not every player who has a chance to play in such a game. It's great to be in it, but we definitely want to win."