Lyon success gives Rybeck thrill

For one of Olympique Lyonnais' UEFA Women's Champions League finalists, the last-four elimination of Umeå IK was especially sweet.

Full-back Amelie Rybeck was signed on a six-month deal by Lyon from Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in the winter, having spent her career in her native Sweden generally tasting defeat in trips north to Umeå. Not so in Lyon's delayed second-leg visit, though, as the French club secured a 0-0 draw to win the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate and progress to tackle 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam for the trophy in Getafe on 20 May.

"I've been facing Umeå for the past ten years and practically never managed to come away with a point from here," 27-year-old Rybeck told uefa.com. "It's a thrill to leave Gammliavallen as a winner for once."

Unlike her injured Lyon team-mate Lotta Schelin, who moved from Göteborg in 2008, Rybeck is yet to win a senior Swedish cap and moved to France amid much less fanfare. But she has proved an important part of coach Farid Benstiti's team in helping Lyon reach the final after twice falling at the last-four hurdle of the former UEFA Women's Cup over the previous two years.

"We defenders were told to stay pretty far back today," explained Rybeck. "Last time they managed to find space behind us with long balls. Today we followed our instructions."

German champions Potsdam, 2004/05 UEFA Women's Cup winners, now lie in wait in next month's showpiece at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez Stadium, and while Rybeck expects a "very tough match", she is not intimidated by the prospect. "I'm not saying, 'Oh no, do we have to play Potsdam?' The match will be open for either side to win. It'll be fantastic."