The Quarter Finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League kicked off tonight, and after being eliminated last season in a dramatic penalty shootout with Chelsea, 8 times Champions’ Olymiqiue Lyon were looking to push further into the competition once again. Standing in their way was Porteugese Champions and first time knock-out round attendees, Benfica. A visit to Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica awaited both sides, as they geared up for a highly anticipated arm wrestle.

The two sides named strong starting XI’s in this fixture, but both also had big absentees through injuries. The home side were without former Lyon winger, Jéssica Silva and the visitors without Daniëlle van De Donk and Ada Hegerberg.

SLB: Pauels; Araújo, Costa, Ucheibe, Alves, Faria, Nazareth, Gasper, Falcón, Alidou, Raysla

LYO: Endler; Carpenter, Bacha, Mbock Bathy, Giles, Horan, Däbritz, Diani, Majri, Cascarino, Le Sommer

Both teams came out to a strong start, with Lyon make immediate efforts towards goal. Though the visitors were immediately snuffed out by Lena Pauels, who would go on to have an exceptional first half between the goalposts. In a common theme of the game, Benfica used everything to their advantage, with strong counter attacks to challenge Christiane Endler. The first obvious chance came from the home side, though Benfica’s push for the first effort was pushed off the post by Endler.

In what appeared to be a physical game from the get go, Nycole Raysla had to exit early on with an injury, being replaced by Chandra Davidson. This was quickly followed by a incredible save from Benfica’s backline, including a last minute block from Christy Ucheibe, before Lyon’s efforts were ruled offside. What followed were two more Lyon big chances, one from Diani and the other from Le Sommer, which were both brilliantly saved by well Pauels,

Benfica were truly in the game throughout, keeping the French champions on their toes. More physicality came in the game between Selma Bacha and Lúcia Alves, as the French fullback went tumbling over Alves in a challenge that saw both need treatment before Bacha received a yellow card for her fouling effort.

The first half was finished with Benfica once again using Lyon’s mistakes to their advantages. A loose pass across the Lyon backline half way down the pitch saw Andreia Faria capitalise, and carrying the ball across the pitch into a 1 v 1 with Endler, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

It was a move that summed up the first half, with Lyon’s messy passing being used to the home side’s benefit. Benfica were able to dance through the Lyon side with ease and punished them where it hurts. The first half’s best players were the Benfica defence partnership between Pauels and Ucheibe, keeping Lyon’s powerful forwards out of the game, and goal.

With no changes made by either manager at the break, the second half started as the first ended. Benfica were pushing for a second goal to double their advantage but were unable to capitalise on a shaky Lyon side. Gasper’s shot from outside the box was blocked by Giles, in an effort that summed up the outing in entirety for the hosts.

The introduction of Eggurola and Dumornay brought structure and stability to the visitors, with Le Sommer and Majri making way. Dumornay gained the assist for the equalising goal less than 10 minutes after her introduction. Cascarino’s right footed shot at close range got the home side back in the game.

A swift transition in Benfica’s defence from Araujo to Seica changed the strength of the togetherness to keep Lyon out. Likewise, a yellow card for Ucheibe could have affected the willingness to defend proactively. Regardless, Lyon were able to gain the upper hand in the game and as a result the visitors shifted the tempo to their complete control.

Both sides made attacking changes to push for a second, with Vicki Becho’s first touch reached the back of the net. However, the over head shot was ruled off side by Horan inside of disallowed territory. It didn’t matter though, as two minutes later Däbritz’ header from close range saw the French giants ahead for the first time. The physicality continued as Becho had to receive treatment to her ankle, but she was deemed fit to see out the game.

Whilst the game finished with Lyon finding the aggregate advantage in the first leg, Benfica are in no way out of the race for a semi final spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The toe-to-toe match up continues on March 27th, as both sides gear up for their final meeting at OL Stadium.