Canadians set for Women’s Champions League semis

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The UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals get underway this weekend, with one matchup potentially featuring three Canadians playing in one of the biggest rivalries in club soccer.

Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain will renew hostilities when they clash in the first leg of their UWCL semifinal on Sunday at Parc Olympique Lyonnais. They’ll then travel to Parc des Princes in Paris for the second leg on Apr. 30 to determine who will advance to the Champions League final.

The matchup could see three Canadians on the field, with Ashley Lawrence and Jordyn Huitema playing for PSG and Kadeisha Buchanan now in her sixth season with Lyon.

Lawrence’s status for the weekend is uncertain. She missed Canada’s second game against Nigeria on Apr. 11 as well as PSG’s league game on Apr. 16 and was reported to have COVID.

If she is unable to play on Sunday, it would be a big loss for PSG. Lawrence, 26, has played all 90 minutes in all but one of her club’s Champions League games this season. She has recorded three assists, including setting up the game-winner in extra time that propelled the Parisian club past Bayern Munich in the quarter-final.

The native of Brampton, Ont. won her first-ever league title in Division 1 Féminine last year, but she has yet to lift the Champions League trophy. She’s looking to return to the final for the first time since 2017, her inaugural year with the club.

Awaiting on the other side is Lawrence’s childhood friend, Buchanan. The two have faced off numerous times since they each joined their respective teams after playing together for West Virginia University.

Like Lawrence, Buchanan has been a mainstay for her club, especially during the past two seasons. Buchanan became a