Women's Champions League Matchday 2: OL Lyonnes vs Chelsea facts

OL Lyonnes and Chelsea meet in the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time since 2023 on Matchday 2, the sides having recorded contrasting victories in their league phase openers.

Marie Antoinette Katoto struck a hat-trick (28 40 47) and Melchie Dumornay scored twice (45+1 54) as OLL secured a resounding 8-0 triumph at Servette on Matchday 1 on 23 September. In addition to two own goals, Inès Benyahia (89) also found the net in what was the biggest victory in the competition's league phase.

The same night, Chelsea defeated league phase debutants Austria Wien 1-0 in England thanks to Wieke Kaptein's long-range strike in the 11th minute.

Last match

The teams first met in the semi-finals of the 2018/19 Women’s Champions League. OL progressed 3-2 on aggregate on the way to their sixth title (2-1 h, 1-1 a), Erin Cuthbert scoring for Chelsea in the first leg in France.

The Blues got their revenge in the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 campaign, winning 4-3 on penalties after the tie had ended 2-2. OL had won the second leg in London 2-1 after extra time, Chelsea having claimed a 1-0 victory in France.

The French side suffered just one defeat in their first 11 matches against English teams (W7 D3) but have since lost four of ten (W6). They did win three of their four matches last season (L1), most recently a 4-3 aggregate triumph against Arsenal in the semi-finals (1-2 a, 3-1 h). That second-leg win ended a run of three straight defeats to English visitors.

Chelsea have lost three of their 13 matches against teams from France (W9 D1). They have won the last three – all against Paris FC, most recently 4-0 at home on Matchday 2 last season – and six of the last seven (L1), with their last three trips to France all ending in victory.

OL Lyonnes

Runners-up to Barcelona in Oslo last season (0-4), OL have been crowned champions of Europe on eight occasions from 12 finals – both competition records. Their last success came when they defeated Barcelona 3-1 in 2022 in Turin.

The French outfit were unbeaten in finishing second in last season's league phase (W5 D1), coming from behind to beat former winners Wolfsburg (0-1 a, 4-0 h aet) and Arsenal (1-2 a, 3-1 h) in the knockout stages before losing to Barcelona.

Chelsea

Chelsea were Women's Champions League runners-up in 2021, losing 0-4 to Barcelona in Gothenburg. They have reached the quarter-finals or better in five of the previous six seasons, and in seven of their last eight participations. In 2025/26 they finished third in an unbeaten league phase campaign (W4 D2) before suffering a 2-3 aggregate quarter-final defeat against London rivals Arsenal (1-3 a, 1-0 h).

The Blues' European journey this season began in the third qualifying round, where they recorded a 6-2 aggregate success against Real Sociedad (5-2 h, 1-0 a). It was the first time they had been involved in qualifying.

 Key stats

OL Lyonnes are unbeaten in 24 Women's Champions League group stage/league phase matches (W19 D5), since a 1-5 home defeat against Arsenal on 19 October 2022. They have won 12 of their last 13 (D1).

The French outfit have won 11 of their last 12 home European games (L1).

OL Lyonnes have found the net in 29 of their 31 group stage/league phase matches, scoring in each of their last 19.

OLL's Wendie Renard needs one goal to reach 40 in the Women's Champions League/Women's Cup. The only French players to have reached that total are Eugénie Le Sommer (50) and Camille Abily (43).

OLL's Ada Hegerberg is the all-time leading scorer in Women's Champions League/UEFA Women's Cup history with 69 goals.

Chelsea have lost just one of their 31 group stage/league phase matches (W23 D7) and are unbeaten in 25 (W20 D5), since a 4-0 defeat at Wolfsburg on 16 December 2021.

The Blues have lost only one of their 15 away games at this stage (W11 D3), winning seven of the last eight.

Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor played for OL Lyonnes from 2006 to 2009 and 2010 to 2013, winning six league titles, three French Cups and the Women's Champions League in 2011 and 2012. She worked in the club's academy between 2013 and 2021 before taking charge of the senior side from 2021 to 2024, adding three more league championships, one French Cup and the 2022 Champions League, becoming the first to win the trophy as both player and coach.

Katie McCabe's next appearance in the competition will be her 70th; Emma Byrne (77) is the only player from the Republic of Ireland to feature more in the Women's Champions League/Women's Cup.