Women's Champions League semi-finals begin
Monday, April 4, 2011
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The semi-finals start on Saturday with holders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam travelling across Germany to FCR 2001 Duisburg and Olympique Lyonnais hosting Arsenal LFC at the Stade de Gerland.
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The UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals are played out over the next two weekends with holders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam reprising their tie with German rivals FCR 2001 Duisburg from 12 months ago and Olympique Lyonnais taking on Arsenal LFC.
Duisburg went into their semi-final with Potsdam last year as reigning European champions. After winning the first leg 1-0 at home, however, they lost the return by the same scoreline and Turbine prevailed on penalties, just as they were to do in the final against Lyon in Getafe to take their second continental crown. Potsdam have not looked back since and this season claimed a third straight German title – posting, en route, a 1-0 home victory over Duisburg in February, having previously drawn 1-1 away in September.
Meanwhile, Duisburg ended up third in the Frauen-Bundesliga so must win the UEFA Women's Champions League to return to Europe. However, they warmed up well at the weekend with a 7-1 friendly defeat of second-division BV Cloppenburg, Alexandra Popp scoring five goals. Duisburg will stage the first leg on Saturday, with Simone Laudehr suspended, before travelling to Potsdam on Sunday week.
Lyon, meanwhile, will hope to repeat their quarter-final success against Arsenal in 2007/08, when they knocked out the then champions 3-2 on aggregate despite a first-leg stalemate at the Stade de Gerland. The next year Lyon beat Arsenal 3-0 at home in a second qualifying round group with both teams already through.
There was a rare setback for the already-crowned Division 1 Féminine champions on Sunday, though, as they lost their French Cup quarter-final 3-2 on penalties at FCF Juvisy Essonne following a 0-0 draw. That was a second blow given earlier in the week defender Sandrine Dusang had been ruled out for the campaign with a knee injury.
Arsenal had several players involved in England's 2-1 friendly defeat of the United States on Saturday, with Rachel Yankey scoring in London. The Gunners visit the Stade de Gerland this Saturday with the Borehamwood return match seven days later. Finally, Fulham FC's Craven Cottage in west London will host the final on Thursday 26 May and tickets are on sale priced at £3 (€3.40) for under-16s and £5 (€5.90) for adults.
