Agile Lyon expose Wolfsburg failings in one-sided shadow of European classics

Melchie Dumornay helps add verticality to Jonatan Giraldez blueprint in dominant 3-1 Champions League win

Lyon’s Melchie Dumornay (left) and Wolfsburg’s Janou Levels. Credit: Getty Images

Lyon v Wolfsburg is a European classic in women’s football. Tuesday night’s victory for Lyon was the 10th meeting between the two sides in the Uefa Women’s Champions League, four of which have been finals – most recently in San Sebastian in 2020.

The French champions have the upper hand overall, winning eight of the previous nine meetings – including three finals – and scoring 19 times in those games. The record may be lopsided heavily towards Lyon, but their contests have often been classics, full of drama and with exceptional talent on display.

This encounter, however, highlighted the current gap between the sides. Jonatan Giraldez’s Lyon absolutely dominated proceedings against Stephan Lerch’s side. The eight-time European champions looked a step above the Germans, as reflected in the 3-1 scoreline.

The story of their dominance screams out from the numbers. Lyon accrued an expected goals (xG) tally of four while scoring three times and restricted Wolfsburg to a mere 0.7xG. This was the lowest xG tally for Wolfsburg in any of their games so far this season.

Lyon monopolised the the ball with 70% possession and dominated territory with it. They had a field tilt of 92% (the share of final-third touches for each side) and recorded 21 shots, the most any side has managed against Wolfsburg in a game this season. In comparison, the She-Wolves managed two.

So how did they manage to do it?