Bompastor and Schelin raise Lyon hopes

A year ago, Olympique Lyonnais lost the UEFA Women's Champions League final to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in Getafe. Twelve months on they meet again at Craven Cottage, but this time the French club can call on Sonia Bompastor and Lotta Schelin.

Defender Bompastor returned to Lyon last summer along with fellow French international Camille Abily after two campaigns in the United States. Sweden striker Schelin, meanwhile, missed the 2010 final through injury but, after nine goals on the road to London, is in prime condition for Thursday's rematch as Lyon attempt to overturn last year's epic 7-6 loss on penalties following a goalless draw.

"It took the girls a lot of time to forget the painful experience last year, losing on penalties when they had been two goals up [in the shoot-out]," Bompastor told UEFA.com. "We are aware of how lucky we are this year to play in the final again – and why not win it? We are confident and positive."

Schelin added: "I'm really up for it. And I think the whole team is too, because last year we played each other and we want to take our revenge on them. But I'm very happy to be here, and I'm very happy to be on the field."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is just as ambitious for his women's side to succeed as his men's team. Even in Bompastor's absence the club moved forward. Coach Patrice Lair was appointed last summer and led the team to a fifth straight title in style, winning all 21 games so far.

"The team has changed a lot; the coach is different, the squad has changed, there are some new players," Bompastor said. "And I think that since I left the team have gained a lot of confidence and experience, with the final last year – the girls are a lot more experienced, and they now feel capable of winning the title."

Bompastor previously played under Lair at Montpellier Hérault SC, reaching the 2005/06 UEFA Women's Cup semi-finals before her initial departure for the new dominant force in French female football. "This coach is very rigorous; he loves hard work," said the 30-year-old.

"We were lucky enough to have become champions more than a month ago now, and we have had a lot of time to work together and prepare for this final," she added. "[Lair] doesn't leave much to chance. We have worked on every single aspect of tomorrow's game, so let's see how it goes. You never know how it will go in a final, but at least it will not be down to luck, and we will have prepared everything really well."

However, so will have Potsdam, two-time European club champions and boasting several players used to winning international trophies with the female game's dominant force, Germany. The secret of beating teams from that country is something that foxes Schelin.

"Tell me that and we would win," the 27-year-old forward said. "They are always good, even with the Swedish national team we always have difficulty playing German teams. But at the same time, like last year, it was missed opportunities that made us lose. We have to keep on going, we have to play, and hopefully we can just win before the penalties this year – that would be fine for me."