Olympique Lyonnais Cruises Past Paris Saint Germain To Win First Title

Le Trophée des Championnes is staying in Lyon for an additional year. A third Trophée des champions for Lyon in… three editions.

The reigning French champion, Olympique Lyonnais defeated this Sunday their all-time rivals Paris Saint-Germain (2-0). Thus, the 8-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner secured its first title this season.

Summer recruit Melchie Dumornay, 20, who joined the team from Stade de Reims, was unstoppable in the first period, giving les Lyonnaises the advantage (1-0, 35′) before the inevitable Eugénie le Sommer doubled the lead (2-0, 68th).

Despite a balanced start in the first half, Olympique Lyonnais managed to gradually take the upper hand and gain momentum. With the recruits Kadidiatou Diani, arriving from PSG this summer, and the young prospect Melchie Dumornay, the Fenottes controlled the Parisiennes.

The Haitian scored on her debut with her dream team after a splendid cross from Le Sommer.

Ten minutes into the second half, PSG were close to equalizing. The Swiss international Ramona Bachmann’s shot found the target, but a focused Christiane Endler kept her team in front. (54’).

Le Sommer, the French International who returned to the French National Team after the arrival of Hervé Renard as the Head Coach in March, doubled her impact sealing the fate of the match in the second half, deflecting with the outside of her foot a crushed shot from her teammate Lindsey Horan. She adds a goal to her first-half assist.

Toward the end of the game, Griedge Mbock, who hadn’t played an official game for over a year, came in to join the party.

Sonia Bompastor is undeniably happy with her defender’s return. The French coach will be forced to make complicated choices before each match, but at least she’s got herself a full squad at her disposal.

Absences On Both Sides

The clash at Aube stadium in Troyes was missing a few superstars. For the Parisians, Marie-Antoinette Katoto has returned to group training after recovering from the ACL injury she suffered during the 2022 Euros.

However, she is yet to feature in Gérard Prêcheur’s squad. She is expected to make her return for Sunday’s D1 Arkema match against Bordeaux.

Aissatou Tounkara, who joined PSG from Manchester United, didn’t appear in the starting lineup. Prêcheur preferred aligning the trio Jade Le Guilly, Elisa De Almeida and Viola Calligaris in the back.

For OL, Delphine Cascarino, victim of a ruptured right cruciate ligament in May, is still recovering. She is expected to make a return in January. Ada Hegerberg, who felt discomfort hours before the match, did not play either. Kysha Sylla was declared injured and Sara Dabritz was absent for personal reasons.

D1 Arkema, Next!

With this new Trophée des Championnes Trophy, OL launches its season perfectly. Three new trophies are on the team’s radars: the French league (D1 Arkema), French Cup, and of course, their favorite of all, UEFA Women’s Champions League.

D1 Arkema 2023/2024 season kicks off on September 15 in Le Havre with a match opposing the locals to Lyon. PSG will head to the south on Sunday to face Bordeaux.

For the count of the second matchday, OL and PGS will face again.

Olympique Lyonnais Starting Eleven

Endler ; Carpenter, Gilles, Renard, Bacha ; Egurrola, Horan, Van De Donk ; Diani, Le Sommer, Dumornay.

Paris Saint Germain Starting Eleven

Kiedrzynek ; Vangsgaard, Calligaris, De Almeida, Le Guilly, Karchaoui ; Geyoro, Jean-François, Groenen ; Baltimore, Martens.

Key Points

• Sara Dabritz was absent for personal reasons as announced by Bompastor. Her teammates paid her a tribute during the awards ceremony.
• Les Lyonnaises won the first two editions of this Champions Trophy in 2019 and then in 2022. They keep the trophy at home in 2023 and add a third consecutive trophy.
• Melchie Dumornay scored her first goal with Olympique Lyonnais on her debut.
• Ada Hegerberg wasn’t in the match’s squad due to some muscle discomfort.
• Lyon has won 8 of their last 10 matches against Paris.
• Griedge Mbock, the French International, made her official comeback after recovering from a long injury.
• Michelle Kang was present and lifted her first official trophy as OL Féminin Boss.