OL Lyonnes – Inter: the 6-0 impresses, but the second half tells us more

The 6-0 thrashing of Inter Milan on Wednesday 28 October, on matchday three of the Women’s Champions League, was a display of sheer dominance. But the scoreline does not tell the whole story. OL Lyonnes initially took the lead by making runs in behind and getting bodies into the box, before turning a contest that was still short of quality in the final third into a goal fest after the break. Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s brace, Lily Yohannes’s chip and Vicki Becho’s hat-trick defined the evening; they do not mean we should overlook how the team built its victory. (ol-lyonnes.com)

Katoto leads the way, but not all questions are answered

OL Lyonnes had the ball and looked to get in behind quickly, but Inter initially held firm in their own box. The opening goal, in the 18th minute, came from a high turnover and a Jule Brand pass in behind the defence, finished by Katoto. Just before half-time, the striker punished the Italians again, following up a cross from Tabitha Chawinga. The two moves highlighted the value of Lyon’s runs and presence in front of goal, rather than a dominance consistently converted into clear-cut chances.

That distinction matters: Le Progrès notes that OL were not always inspired in the final third in the first half, and Jonatan Giráldez himself felt their build-up play was better than their finishing before the break. The 2-0 lead was comfortable, but the attacking play was not yet as fluid as the final scoreline might suggest. (leprogres.fr)

Yohannes and Becho change the tempo

In the 59th minute, Yohannes made the evening spectacular: spotting the goalkeeper off her line, she tried a long-range chip that found the net. The audacious effort was more than an isolated piece of skill. It punished a defensive line that had until then been able to focus on Lyon’s players close to the box, and gave OL a lead that opened up the game.

Becho, introduced in the second half, then scored three goals in less than half an hour. The first two came from following up saved shots; the last, in stoppage time, rewarded an individual effort. UEFA named her player of the match and confirmed that Lyon had reached seven points after three games. The scenario also showed the value of squad depth: Giráldez was able to inject fresh energy after Inter had spent long spells defending. However, it would be excessive to conclude that OL have found an infallible formula: Becho’s goals also depended on second balls and an Italian defence that came under increasing pressure. (fr.uefa.com)

A clear response, not yet a conclusion

The result’s significance lies in the European sequence: after a win at Servette and a goalless draw against Chelsea, Lyon got back to winning ways. Inter, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat of the campaign and remain on four points, according to UEFA. The Lyon club therefore occupy a favourable position for now, but matchday three had not finished when the first reports were published. Thursday’s matches, including PSG’s game against Manchester City, could still change the league table picture. (fr.uefa.com)

Another positive sign: Lyon have not conceded in their first three European outings, notes Le Progrès. Their defensive solidity was nevertheless tested at least once after the 3-0, when Inter created a dangerous situation and goalkeeper Mala Grohs preserved the scoreline. The episode is a reminder that a one-sided match is not necessarily a flawless one. The clean-sheet record will be confirmed over time, not on an evening when the opposition rarely managed to build attacks. (leprogres.fr)

The real test: sustaining the high standards

The win gave Giráldez specific reasons to be pleased: Katoto made her presence felt in the box, Yohannes punished a goalkeeper off her line and Becho immediately made a decisive impact after coming on. But the coach also highlighted the gap between good build-up play and less convincing finishing before the break. For a team targeting the latter stages of European competition, that demand is more instructive than the 6-0 alone.

Inter held out for a while, then gave way under the repeated attacks and the quality of Lyon’s substitutes. The evening confirmed OL’s attacking power when they can accelerate and win the ball high up the pitch; on its own, it does not allow us to judge their ability to break down a low block over a longer spell or manage an opponent who makes better use of their rare counter-attacks. The next challenge, then, will be less about celebrating a big scoreline than about finding that precision again in a tighter match. OL Lyonnes have reignited their campaign in style. Their progress will be measured in matches where style alone is not enough.