Women’s Champions League 2024-25: Lyon’s Late Surge Thrashes Roma; Chelsea & Real Madrid Advance to Quarterfinals

• Lyon overcame Roma 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals, with two goals in two minutes by Kadidiatou Diani.
• Chelsea won 3-0 against Celtic, with Lucy Bronze scoring in the first minute, extending their perfect run under new coach Sonia Bompastor.
• Real Madrid came from behind to defeat Twente 3-2, with Linda Caicedo playing a pivotal role in the victory.
• Alexandra Popp scored a hat trick in Wolfsburg’s dominant 5-0 win against Galatasaray, setting up a decisive match against Roma in December.

A late surge from Lyon saw them claim a 4-1 victory over Roma on Wednesday, securing a place in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals. Roma stunned the eight-time European champions by taking a 74th-minute lead, but Lyon responded swiftly. Substitute Kadidiatou Diani scored twice in quick succession, in the 77th and 79th minutes, both from close-range corner kicks, to put Lyon ahead. Another substitute, Eugenie Le Sommer, added a third in the 89th, before captain Wendie Renard completed the win with a header in stoppage time.

Chelsea also advanced with a dominant 3-0 victory over Celtic, maintaining a perfect record under new coach Sonia Bompastor. Lucy Bronze opened the scoring just 64 seconds into the match, followed by Wieke Kaptein’s header in the 25th minute and a stoppage-time penalty from Eve Périsset.

Real Madrid joined Lyon and Chelsea in the knockout stage after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Twente. Teenager Linda Caicedo starred with a goal in first-half stoppage time and an assist for Signe Bruun in the 71st. Twente led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a free-kick goal by Jaimy Ravensbergen, but Caicedo turned the match around. Alba Redondo sealed Madrid’s victory in stoppage time, though Twente reduced the deficit with a late shot from Sophie Te Brake.

In Germany, Alexandra Popp led Wolfsburg to a 5-0 win over Galatasaray, scoring a hat trick and providing two assists. Wolfsburg’s dominant performance continued after a 5-0 win in Istanbul, with Popp’s early goals setting the tone. Wolfsburg’s victory sets up a crucial match on December 11 against Roma, as both teams are tied on six points and competing for second place behind Lyon.