UWCL: Lyonnes Edge Arsenal on Aggregate in Thrilling Semi-Final

Lyonnes reach 12th Champions League final with win over Arsenal

Lyonnes beat Arsenal 3-1 at home on May 2, 2026, to win 4-3 on aggregate and reach the Women’s Champions League final in Oslo on May 23.

Renard, Diani and Brand fire Lyonnes past holders Arsenal...

Jule Brand scored late to lift OL Lyonnes past Arsenal 3-1 at home, sealing a 4-3 aggregate win and a place in the Women’s Champions League final.  

 

The eight-time European champions, formerly Olympique Lyonnais, will meet either Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the final. The two sides play their second leg in Spain on Sunday after a 1-1 draw last week.  

Lyon came out fast and had a set-piece goal ruled out early. They broke through when Melchie Dumornay was tripped by Lotte Wubben-Moy in the box, with the referee pointing to the spot after a VAR review. Wendie Renard converted the penalty on her second try after Daphne van Domselaar left her line and saved the first attempt.  

Kadidiatou Diani extended the lead to 2-0 in the 36th minute, hooking in at the back post from a corner to put Lyon 3-2 up on aggregate.

Arsenal, who had lacked the intensity they showed in the 2-1 first-leg win, pulled level in the 76th minute. Alessia Russo slipped between two defenders to steer home Smilla Holmberg’s cross and make it 2-2 on the night.  

Brand's late winner sends the eight-time champions to the Oslo final 🦁#UWCL pic.twitter.com/LuBd65Lwa6

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) May 2, 2026

Extra time loomed until Jule Brand found the net in the 86th minute. She ran onto a pass from Melchie Dumornay and finished with a clever left-footed strike to put Lyon through to their 12th Champions League final.  

The final is set for Oslo on May 23.

OL Lyonnes are heading for a record-extending 12th #UWCLfinal 🎉#UWCL pic.twitter.com/0fXZ25HIu6

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) May 2, 2026