The party was going to be grand.
And it was partly so as the Parc des Princes, filled with 43,254 spectators, a French record for a match between women's clubs, pushed behind PSG.
Unfortunately for the Parisiennes, the adventure in the Champions League stops at the gates of the final.
A week after the setback suffered in Lyon (3-2), they lost again in their stadium (2-1) and were eliminated for the second year in a row at this stage of the competition.
However, Didier Ollé-Nicolle's players will regret the first leg scenario for a long time, weighed down by three errors from their goalkeeper Barbora Votikova.
Because this Saturday evening again, they proved that the tide had turned in recent months.
PSG, reigning French champions, look OL straight in the eye, collectively and individually.
The capital club undoubtedly deserved better in this semi-final second leg.
But in this sport more than any other, missed opportunities are expensive.
The Parisian team should remember for a long time the head-to-head encounter missed by Sakina Karchaoui (76th) when the “momentum” (two chances in a row for Diani, goal disallowed at OL…) was clearly in their favour.
The score was already 1-1 and this opportunity could offer extra time.
Ten minutes earlier, Marie-Antoinette Katoto had equalized with a goal that was a bit lucky but showed all her determination (62nd).
KATOTO PULLS ONE BACK FOR PSG 😯
Game on 👊
🇫🇷 🎙 👉 https://t.co/8BrCbQycaR
🇬🇧 🎙 👉 https://t.co/sXW3IHSXpO pic.twitter.com/gsDq3GytRC
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) April 30, 2022
The Parc des Princes could ignite a little more.
It's been a while since we've seen him like that after more than two months of protests between the Collectif ultras Paris (CUP) and the men's team.
OL have reached the final for the tenth time in 13 seasons and will face FC Barcelona on May 21 in Turin.
Experience will necessarily have counted in this semi-final, where the most efficient team wins.
The Lyonnaises only scored four times this Saturday evening but scored two goals.
From the head each time, first by the 2018 Ballon d'Or Ada Hegerberg (14th) then by captain Wendie Renard (83rd).
A third goal was denied them for an offside of a few centimeters (56th).
Captain Wendie Renard comes in clutch for Lyon 👏🧑✈️
🇫🇷 🎙 👉 https://t.co/8BrCbQycaR
🇬🇧 🎙 👉 https://t.co/sXW3IHSXpO pic.twitter.com/Bo3sRTnYVQ
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) April 30, 2022
At fault on the three goals conceded in Lyon last week, the PSG goalkeeper did not have time to raise his head.
The Czech was injured after a bad support on her left leg (41st), replaced at the break by the German Charlotte Voll.
This semi-final will have been a nightmare for her.
But the atmosphere is definitely not the same for boys as for girls.
Despite the elimination, the CUP continued to sing to the glory of its players, who came to greet the ultras after the final whistle.
The next few weeks will still be eventful for the women's section, still marked by the consequences of the Hamraoui affair.
The priority of the leaders concerns the extension of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, top scorer in the history of the club.
The championship almost lost (5 points behind OL three days from the end), there is also a Coupe de France final to win.
It will be against the small formation of Yzeure, on May 15.
History of winning at least one trophy this season.
