Lyon needs Renard and Hegerberg to shine against Arsenal in women’s CL semis, Barca faces Chelsea

PARIS: When Wendie Renard scored in front of 14,000 fans in the women’s Champions League final 14 years ago, she helped Lyon win the trophy for the first time.
Seven more titles and much bigger crowds have followed since for Renard and Lyon, along with a truck-load of domestic trophies.
The 34-year-old Frenchwoman has scored more than 150 goals for the club in almost 500 appearances, a remarkable ratio for a central defender.
Lyon teammate Ada Hegerberg — the first Ballon d’Or winner — is in her 11th season at the club and has won the competition six times. She scored a hat trick in the 4-1 rout of Barcelona in the 2019 final.
They are among the most iconic names in women’s soccer and Lyon might need big performances from both to win a record-extending ninth European crown.
Lyon’s last victory came three years ago and since then Barcelona have taken over as the leading team in the sport.

The Catalan giant are going for a third straight title and fourth overall.
Barcelona are led by the flair and drive of two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. They have shared the last four awards, making it four straight for the club, and both scored in last year’s final against Lyon in front of a record crowd of 51,000.
Lyon and Barcelona have met in the final in three of the past six seasons and could clash again — provided they get past Arsenal and Chelsea in the semifinals.
Lyon travel to Arsenal for a lunchtime first leg on Saturday and Barcelona host Chelsea on Sunday evening.
When Lyon won the Champions League for the first time, they beat Arsenal in the semifinals.
The second legs are held the following Sunday, with the final taking place on May 24 at Lisbon’s 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade.
Lond