Arsenal Women to host Lyon

Arsenal’s next European home game is not at Meadow Park but at the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium, because Olympique Lyonnais are the opponent and the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final is set for Saturday April 25 or Sunday April 26 in north London. The return leg is in France on Saturday May 2 or Sunday May 3, with final dates and kick-off times still marked to be confirmed on club and UEFA pages. (arsenal.com) (uefa.com) This is a rematch that still feels fresh because Arsenal knocked Lyon out in last season’s semi-final, losing 2-1 at home before winning 4-1 away in France to go through 5-3 on aggregate. That result ended Lyon’s run and sent Arsenal on to the 2025 final in Lisbon. (skysports.com) The route back here was messy for both clubs. Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of the quarter-final on March 24, then survived a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge on April 1 to advance 3-2 on aggregate. (arsenal.com) (uefa.com) Lyon had it even harder. Wolfsburg won the first leg 1-0, and Lyon needed extra time in the second leg on April 2 before pulling away 4-0 in France to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate. (uefa.com) That sets up a tie between two clubs with very different recent European resumes. Lyon are still the competition’s record champions with eight titles, while UEFA’s current club-coefficient table lists Lyon second on 24.750 points and Arsenal fifth on 21.000 for the 2025-26 season. (uefa.com 1) (uefa.com 2) The stadium choice tells you how Arsenal see the occasion. Arsenal’s official ticket page is already selling the semi-final at the Emirates, and the club is also advertising hospitality, which is what teams do when they expect a crowd much bigger than a regular league night. (arsenal.com) The dates also squeeze Arsenal’s domestic calendar. Arsenal Women are due to play Leicester City at the Emirates on Wednesday April 29, which drops right between the home leg against Lyon and the trip to France a few days later. (arsenal.com) For supporters, this is one of those ties where the two legs are part of the story. One match is in London, the other is in the Lyon area a week later, so travel, ticket timing, and even whether the first leg ends level can shape the whole experience before a ball is kicked in France. (arsenal.com) (uefa.com) And Arsenal know from last year that this opponent can make a first-leg result feel temporary. They lost the opener in London and still blew the tie open in France, which is why hosting first this time is only half the job. (skysports.com)