Victory against Lyon in the Champions League: Wolfsburg beats the unbeaten

AAlexandra Popp ran onto the field as if she wanted to freeze these moments in her memory. She applauded with a smile that reflected a mixture of pride, pure joy and disbelieving amazement at what had just happened in the Wolfsburg Arena. Popp, of all people, was unable to take part in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League because she was out for a few weeks with a muscular injury. But even without one of their most important players, the VfL Wolfsburg footballers managed a surprise: a 1-0 win against record winners Olympique Lyon, who have won eight titles.

And it wasn’t just the result that kept the chance of reaching the semi-finals. But also the convincing nature of the appearance. Olympique clearly has a stronger squad with international greats such as the intimidating Ada Hegerberg, Wendie Renard and Lindsey Heaps. No opponent has been able to beat this team this season. Until the Wolfsburg women started on Tuesday with a collective performance and courageous, self-confident football in possession. And they were able to “swim free a little bit and free themselves from the pressure,” as VfL coach Stephan Lerch said on Disney+. In the league phase of the Champions League they lost 3-1 against Lyon in November.

Vivien Endemann in particular stood for this courage. With her speed, she constantly posed a danger in the transition game – as was the case recently with the DFB women – and Lyon could only be stopped with fouls. The decisive pass of the evening came from her before Lineth Beerensteyn took the lead in the 14th minute, after a deflection. A quarter of an hour later, Beerensteyn made it 2-0 with a header. After the break, it was the defense that enabled Wolfsburg to withstand the growing dominance of the favorites. And, okay, there was luck here and there, especially when Kadidiatou Diani hit the left post with a lot of oomph (59′). After that, German international Jule Brand, who moved from Wolfsburg to Lyon last summer, came off the bench, but she didn’t make it either.

“We had an incredible energy performance,” said Endemann, who was voted the best player of the game: “We had a good plan. I wouldn’t have wanted to play against us. We were very disgusting.” Olympique, on the other hand, will appear more disgusting in the second leg on April 2nd (9 p.m., Disney+). The fact that they have to do this is all the more remarkable given the upheaval that VfL underwent in the summer, including a change of coach. The fact that an old acquaintance has returned to Lerch, who had already successfully coached the Wolfsburg team from 2017 to 2021, may have contributed to the team quickly coming together and doing well in all competitions: second place in the Bundesliga, cup semi-finals – and now the success against Lyon.

If the sensation were successful, it would also have a football-romantic touch. Because then the three-time Champions League winner Alexandra Popp would probably not have to say goodbye to this competition as a spectator. She could be fit again by the possible semi-final first leg (April 25th/26th). Popp is the German record player in the premier class with 112 games. In any case, she is only topped by Lyon’s Wendie Renard with her 131 appearances and an incredible eight titles from eleven final appearances. It will be the last international season for Popp. In the summer, the 34-year-old will move to current regional league club Borussia Dortmund after 14 years. And until then, she would like to walk around the square in disbelief at least one more time.