Podcast: Episode 7 – Knockouts and New Faces

Lyon Offside’s series of special podcasts dedicated to women’s football continues with a new episode! The group stages have concluded, and 15 of the 16 OL players who started the tournament have advanced to the knockout rounds. France aren’t quite clicking, VAR has everyone on edge, and now is when the games really get good. Rabeeta (@OffsideBeet) and Arianna (@AScavs) break down the best of match days 2 and 3 and look ahead to the knockouts. Plus, with a new coach and 4 new players now officially announced, we have plenty of questions about the arrivals to OL Féminin.

Have a listen below! You’ll also find timestamps for specific topics if you’d like to jump around. If there are any topics you’d like us to cover, just tweet at any one of us, or you can send an email to LyonOffside@gmail.com.

Topics Covered:

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Lyon Or Bust: OL At The Women’s World Cup

It’s not unusual for the world’s best female soccer players to converge on Lyon over the summer . . . it’s just that usually they’re all wearing rouge et bleu and gearing up for preseason action. But this summer brings an international twist as the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup sweeps across France. All roads lead to Lyon, as the Parc OL will have the privilege of hosting the tournament’s semifinals (July 2 and 3) and final (July 7).

OL Féminin sends a tournament-leading 16 players (including the all-but-officially-announced Nikita Parris) to compete with their respective nations for women’s soccer’s greatest prize. Set aside hoisting the trophy–Which World Cup-bound Fenottes stand the best chance of actually advancing to the final four to compete at their home stadium? We’ve ranked the players and their national teams’ chances below.

Fourth And Goal: Weary Lyon Eye Another UWCL Title

OL Féminin are on the brink of a fourth straight UEFA Women’s Champions League title, a feat unseen in either the men’s or women’s game since Real Madrid swept the first five men’s titles to close out the 1950s. A star-studded showdown with FC Barcelona awaits. But do les Fenottes have enough left in the tank to bring the treble back to Lyon?

With just days to go before the big show, we’re checking in on how the teams got here, key storylines, and players to watch.

Podcast: Episode 4 – Game of Thrones, Lyon Edition

Forget the television phenomenon–the most stressful battles of the year will be happening on the pitch, as OL Féminin attempt to defend their European hegemony against a Barcelona squad somehow playing the role of plucky underdog. Meanwhile, the men are fighting for a Champions League berth without some important defensive stalwarts. Sam (@OZOL1950), Arianna (@AScavs), and Nick (@NicholasMamo) break down the battle plans as we head toward the season finales.

Have a listen below! You will also find timestamps for specific topics if you’d like to jump around. If there are any topics you’d like us to cover, just tweet at any one of us, or you can send an email to LyonOffside@gmail.com.

Topics Covered:

• UEFA Women’s Champions League Final
  • Barcelona’s path to the final (0:40)
  • Pressure on Reynald Pedros? (5:55)
  • Consistency in results (10:00)
  • Majri moving on? (17:15)
• De Facto Finals in Ligue 1
  • Motivation for the final sprint (23:00)
  • Strength of schedule compared to ASSE (30:10)
  • Short-staffed on defense (39:00)
  • Champions League berth at stake (45:45)
• Mercato Predictions
  • Fekir/Memphis/Ndombele/Mendy – Choose 2 (52:15)

Cover photo via Dominique Mallen (@dommal38)

Fleury Faux Pas: Lessons From An Unexpected Draw

Can a result be a shock without being a surprise? Just days after slotting four goals past perennial European powerhouse Wolfsburg on the Germans’ own field, Lyon were unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw by FC Fleury 91–D1 Féminine’s sixth-place club. And yet it somehow felt like this was always coming.