UEFA WOMEN’s Quarterfinals

The road to the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s finals at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon is heating up, with the quarterfinal second legs now in the books. After thrilling comebacks, dominant performances, and surprises, the stage is set for an exciting semi-final showdown amongst four teams. Here is how the first and second leg action unfolded.

Lyon 4-1 Bayern Munich (Aggregate 6-1): The French Dominance Continues.

Eight-time UWCL winners Lyon reaffirmed their dominance with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg and dispatched a 4-1 win in the second leg to secure a 6-1 aggregate victory. In the first leg, Lyon dominated the game in terms of possession and shots on target, as forward Tabitha Chawinga and midfielder Melchie Dumornay managed to find the back of the net.

In the second leg, Bayern came out strong, with forward Klara Bühl striking first just before halftime. However, Lyon responded emphatically with four goals from midfielder Melchie Dumornay and forwards Kadidatou Diani, Tabitha Chawing, and Ada Hegerberg. This sealed a dominant victory for Lyon, who were the first to secure their spot in the semi-finals.

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (Aggregate 3-2): A Comeback by the Gunners!

Arsenal and Real Madrid’s quarter-final clash was filled with resilience, controversy, and dramatic comebacks. In the first leg, Real Madrid stunned Arsenal with a 2-0 victory at home, with forwards Linda Caicedo and Athenea Del Castillo capitalizing on the Gunner’s defensive mistakes. However, the game was overshadowed by poor pitch conditions, which sparked outrage across the football community. Arsenal legend Ian Wright criticized the playing surface, calling it worse than a recently condemned Derby County pitch. Real Madrid midfielder Melanie Leuploz was forced off due to injury after losing her balance on the muddy pitch.

Arsenal returned to the Emirates stadium determined to turn things around. After a tense first half, Arsenal produced a sensational comeback after halftime, winning 3-0 to overturn the deficit in under 10 minutes. Forwards Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey managed to seal the win in the 46th and 49th minutes with an incredible assist by forward Chloe Kelly. Russo sealed the victory in the 59th minute, sending Arsenal to the semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win. The Gunners will now face UWCL champions Lyon.

Barcelona 6-1 Wolfsburg (Aggregate 10-2): Champions In Command.

Defending champions Barcelona made a bold statement in their quarter-final clash against Wolfsburg, securing a 4-1 victory in the first leg in Germany. The match started unexpectedly when defender Caitlin Dijkstra scored an own goal, setting the stage for a dominant performance from Barcelona. Defender Irene Pardes, forward Salma Paralluelo, and rookie forward Sydney Schertenleib added to the pressure and gave Barcelona the lead. Wolfsburg’s midfielder Janina Minge did manage to score an impressive header in the 72nd minute, but they were left needing a miraculous comeback in the second leg.

Unfortunately for them, Barcelona was even more ruthless as they trashed Wolfsburg 6-1 at home to secure a 10-2 aggregate victory. Although forward Lineth Beerensteyn did manage to score for Wolfsburg, it wasn’t enough for them to get a comeback. Barcelona delivered impressive goals as Paralluelo and forward Cláudia Pina bagged two goals, while midfielder Esmee Brugts and defender María Pilar ‘Mapi’ León also found the net. Pina’s and León’s goals were given a lot of praise, with both coming from impressive free kicks. Barcelona sent a clear message to their competitors: the defending champions are ready to go all the way.

Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (Aggregate 3-2): The Miracle At Stamford Bridge!

In a highly anticipated all-WSL battle, Manchester City took control with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea, thanks to forward Vivianne Miedema. Despite having more possession, Chelsea failed to hit the back of the net because of impressive saves by goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. Fortunately for them, they produced a miracle comeback in the second leg at Stamford Bridge after defender Sandy Baltimore, defender Nathalie Bjorn, and forward Mayra Ramirez all managed to score before half time, securing a 3-2 aggregate win over Manchester City. With the comeback complete, Chelsea will now face Barcelona in the semi-finals.

What’s Next?

The road to Lisbon intensifies as the dream of lifting the trophy grows closer for some and slips away for others. The first leg of the semi-finals is set to be on April 19, 2025, with Arsenal playing against Lyon and Chelsea against Barcelona. The second leg will be held on April 26. Fans can catch the live coverage on DAZN.com or follow updates on DAZN Women’s Football or UEFA Women’s Champions League on Instagram. The stakes are high, and the battle for European glory is about to get more thrilling.