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A festive atmosphere
The club and its Ultras had communicated enough before this meeting between PSG and OL to imagine a great party.
The verdict is final: the atmosphere was there.
In addition to the record crowd (43,254 spectators) which explodes the previous one (30,661 during Lyon-PSG in November 2019), the Parc des Princes roared for 90 minutes in the wake of a boosted Auteuil bend.
"
Take these colors to Turin
", urged the CUP at the kick-off, "
proud of (its) colors and proud of (its) players
".
A week after the gloomy celebration of the tenth title against Lens, the Parisian ultras regained their sense of celebration (smoke cracked half an hour into the game) but also their voice.
While federating around them.
If the more family-oriented attendance than usual may have helped to see thousands of supporters get up when answering the eternal "
who doesn't jump isn't Parisian
", it's a whole stadium that packed for 90 minutes.
Unlike last month.
A suspenseful semi-final
The evening atmosphere is undoubtedly the best advertisement for women's football in France.
The show too.
8 goals in two matches, quality performances and suspense, the duel between PSG and OL remains a driving force for the discipline.
On Saturday, the technical quality rose again, particularly in the transmissions and in the orientations of the game, attesting to the development of the game in women's football.
As for the suspense, it was allowed by the equalizer of Marie-Antoinette Katoto following a high point in Paris which revived everything.
Undecided until Wendie Renard's saving helmet, the match held the audience and the hundreds of spectators posted in front of YouTube in suspense.
Wendie Renard saved OL with an unstoppable header late in the game.
FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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Conquerors, the Lyonnaises are ready to regain their throne
The Lyonnaises get their revenge.
Eliminated in the quarter by the Parisiennes last year, the seven-time European champions find themselves in the final of the most prestigious of club competitions (for the tenth time).
A tempting duel awaits them against Barça, the best women's team of the moment.
“
No matter the opponent, winning in a final means winning it
,” notes Sonia Bompastor, the Lyon technician.
We are focused on the idea of winning while keeping a conquering state of mind
.
A state of mind visible all over the field this Saturday.
Sovereign in the midfield, where the Horan-Henry pair eclipsed the young Parisian midfielder, the Rhodaniennes also shone in the duel,
evidenced by the two headed goals signed Hegerberg (13th) and Renard (83rd).
"
The Lyonnaises have an above-average aerial game, and that's very important in this type of match
,” admitted Didier Olé-Nicolle, the Parisian coach.
Important in the broader context of the "reconquest" of OL women.
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CLAW STRIKES
The ignition delay of Parisiennes
If the Lyonnaises generally dominated the debates on the two meetings, the Parisiennes will be able to harbor regrets after this return match.
"
We are frustrated but we have to keep our heads
up," captain Grace Geyoro called after the game.
Be careful not to dwell too much on the hot situations in the Lyon area, where Renard and company dominated in the air but not necessarily on the ground.
Under the impetus of a Kadidiatou Diani found in the second period, the PSG players pressed until they found the fault (61st).
But this goal will be the only one, due in particular to the prowess of Cristiane Endler, the former house goalkeeper, imperial closely ahead of Sakina Karchaoui, whom the whole stadium already saw scoring (71st).
"
I regret our lack of efficiency in the second half
,” notes his coach, “
saddened for (his) daughters, wonderfully generous
.”
What weight for internal tensions?
The determined return of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, ball under her arm after the equalizing goal, testified to the Parisian will this Saturday.
Pushed like never before by an entire public, the champions of France struggled, but in sequences.
In attitudes, nonchalance could be expensive, like this late withdrawal from Diani on Selma Bacha, on the first of his two assists (13th).
In front, the attacking trio often appeared as elsewhere, like a Katoto between well guarded and decentralized.
Same observation for Sandy Baltimore, involved in an altercation with Kheira Hamraoui a week earlier, guilty of many bad choices this Saturday.
Stigmas of a locker room still polluted by tensions?
“
We had a difficult season
, agrees Geyoro.
All the players are competitors and we know that we have to leave aside what happens off the field
.
No small feat it seems...
