Benfica vs Lyon Women's Champions League preview: Where to watch, starting line-ups

Benfica and Lyon meet in the UEFA Wonen's Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday 19 March at Estádio do SL Benfica.

What do you need to know

Benfica, in what was only their second European campaign, faced Lyon in the inaugural group stage of 2021/22 and twice lost 5-0 to the eventual champions. They showed promise then by taking a point off Bayern and finishing above Häcken but it has still been a big advance for them to become the first Portuguese quarter-finalists after finishing ahead of four-time champions Frankfurt in their group, their development such that it was not even a particular surprise.

They ended the group stage with a superb comeback to draw 4-4 at home to Barcelona on Matchday 6 despite the injury absence at the time of Benfica's key forward Kika Nazareth, with ex-Lyon forward Jéssica Silva starring. She and the Eagles will need to be at their very best against her former club, who have of course won twice as many European titles as even Frankfurt. In fact, OL won five of their eight Champions League titles before Benfica even played their first competitive game in September 2018.

Lyon have looked ominously good so far this season, despite their recent French Cup exit on penalties to Fleury 91 (though OL partially avenged that with Friday's 4-0 league win). Summer arrival Kadidiatou Diani have been in prolific form, Griedge Mbock Bathy back in defence (making up for Wendie Renard's injury absence) and Delphine Cascarino now also available following her long enforced spell on the sidelines.

Eugénie Le Sommer is set for her 400th Lyon game, aiming to add to her 302 club goals. Renard is with the squad in Lisbon having not featured in three months but Ada Hegerberg and Daniëlle van de Donk were unable to travel.

Form guide

Benfica
Last six games: DWWWDW
Last match: Damaiense 1-1 Benfica, 15/03, league
Where they stand: 1st in Campeonato Nacional Feminino, Portuguese Cup semi-finals

Lyon
Last six games: WLWWDW
Last match: Lyon 4-0 Fleury 91, 15/03, league
Where they stand: 1st in D1 Féminine

Squad changes

Benfica
In: Chandra Davidson
Out: Svava Rós Gudmundsdóttir

Lyon
In: None
Out: Sally Julini

Starting line-ups

Benfica: Pauels; Araújo, Carole Costa, Ucheibe; Lucia Alves, Gasper, Andreia Faria, Falcón; Alidou, Nycole Raysla, Kika Nazareth

Lyon: Endler; Carpenter, Mbock Bathy, Gilles, Bacha; Majri, Horan, Däbritz; Diani, Le Sommer, Cascarino

View from the camps

Filipa Patão, Benfica coach: "Lyon are a very strong team going forward, they attack very well, with lethal players in the area. Then, in their defensive organisation they know how to press and close spaces. We are talking about one of the best teams in Europe, so Benfica must be perfect to defeat them. Even so, we have already demonstrated what we can do, so we you will see a Benfica side well-prepared and at using all their strength to defeat Lyon."

"This is a level where we want to reach and to understand what competitive level we are at. We are not just happy to be here. We want to achieve and be more competitive. The higher we go, the more we want, it's an addiction."

Sonia Bompastor, Lyon coach: "They are a very good team, we met them two years ago. At the time, they were getting used to the Champions League, and they were less experienced than us. Now, they are team that have progressed a lot. Portuguese women's football has also evolved a lot, like the national team. Benfica have made significant progress, as evidenced by their qualification for the quarter-finals and their clash with Barcelona.

"For me it will be a special match, because I have Portuguese origins through my mother. Part of my family supports Benfica. The Luz is often spoken about. However, we will focus on the sporting aspect of the match."

Kika Nazareth, Benfica forward: "We are confident. I think we have to be calm, especially after everything we have already done. We have already made history. With this symbol on our chest, we always want more, obviously. We don't want to stop here.

"Football is very uncertain. Anything can happen, and if it's possible for us to score four goals against Barcelona and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League six years into the project, anything is possible."

Eugénie Le Sommer, Lyon forward: "Benfica are a team that has progressed considerably. Many players from the Portugal squad are part of this team. Their presence in the quarter-finals is deserved. We have experience on our side, but we also know that Benfica have nothing to lose. We expect a tough match.

"For my part, it's my first time here, an opportunity to discover a new stadium. It’s always nice to play in big stadiums, that’s also why I'm excited.”

Where is the 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final being played?

San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao will stage the 2024 Women's Champions League final on Saturday 25 May at 18:00 CET.

The 50,000-plus capacity home of Bilbao's Athletic Club was built on the site of the old San Mamés, replacing the 100-year-old arena of the same name in 2013. Athletic Club women's team have played several games in the new stadium, attracting 48,121 fans for a 2019 cup tie against Atlético de Madrid, at the time a Spanish record.