In the opening games of the 2021/2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage, Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) and Hoffenheim defeated Häcken and Køge respectively to kick off their campaign on an impressive note.
The French D1 Arkema side, Lyon outclassed the Swedish Damallsvenskan side, Häcken with a 0-3 scoreline at the Bravida Arena, Gothenburg.
Melvine Malard scored the opener for Lyon 10 minutes into the game. The team celebrated by dedicating the goal to the injured midfielder, Amel Majri.
Catarina Cascarino doubled Lyon’s lead in the 48th minute. The Swedish champions’ misery was compounded when Stine Larsen headed a Selma Bacha corner into her own net.
It’s good to see all-time competition top scorer Ada Hegerberg introduced from the bench for the first time since suffering serious injury in January 2020.
The seven-time winners saw its five-year reign as champions ended last season.
At the other end in the meeting of two teams in their debut European campaigns, Hoffenheim delivered a stylish display against the Danish champions. The German side proved a big mouthful for HB Køge as they put five goals past the Danish side in its opening Group C game at the Dietmar-Hopp Stadion, Sinsheim.
Katharina Naschenwang, Nicole Billa, Luana Buhler, and Tinne De Caigny (brace) scored for Hoffenheim.
Despite the defeat, team captain Kelly Fitzgerald hopes that she and her teammates can learn from the match, and take positives with them to the next matches in the tournament.
“Hopefully we get used more and more to the pace of every match we play. The first match was perhaps a bit of a surprise against a team playing at such a high pace. We can learn from it, and continue to control what we can control, and work hard towards the next match ”.
Nigerian-Danish youngster, Isabella Bryld Obaze played all minutes in her side’s defeat. The 18-year old saw yellow card in the 54th minute but was impressive enough to see the game till the end.
HB Køge will play away against FC Thy-Thisted Q this weekend, and next week it will be the UWCL showdown against FC Barcelona at home at Capelli Sport Stadion.
MOLATsportgist 