Lyon 1-4 Arsenal (3-5 agg): Slegers' side seal WCL final spot after inspired turnaround

Arsenal produced an inspired turnaround to defeat Lyon 5-3 on aggregate and book their place in the Women's Champions League final. 

Renee Slegers' side trailed 2-1 following last week's first leg, but ran out commanding 4-1 winners at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday to set up a showdown with reigning champions Barcelona in next month's showpiece.

Arsenal had overturned deficits to overcome Hacken and Real Madrid in the previous rounds, and took just five minutes to level the tie, as Chloe Kelly's corner ricocheted off Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler and into her own net.

There was nothing fortuitous about the Gunners' second goal in first-half stoppage time, though, with Alessia Russo teeing up Mariona Caldentey to whip a superb strike into the top corner.

Russo then got in on the act within 27 seconds of the restart, capitalising on sloppy defending before firing home.

Another defensive error allowed Arsenal to score a fourth in the 63rd minute, Caitlin Foord pouncing on a Vanessa Gilles slip before finishing.

Melchie Dumornay pulled one back for the hosts 10 minutes from time, but it was a mere consolation as the visitors held out to seal their first Champions League final appearance in 18 years. 

Data Debrief: Arsenal flip the form book in emphatic fashion

Arsenal had lost six of their seven Champions League semi-final ties, but enjoyed a timely upturn in fortunes in superb fashion.

The Gunners inflicted Lyon's first competitive defeat on home soil after 90 minutes since they lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the 2022-23 Champions League semi-final first leg.

The eight-time champions also saw their streak of 11 successive semi-final aggregate victories in this competition brought to a shuddering halt.