UWCL: Damaris Egurrola ‘eager’ to secure Lyon triumph ahead of Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Damaris Egurrola is determined to see the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy return to France this season. European powerhouses Olympique Lyonnais carry a 2-1 advantage into their second leg semi-final clash with Arsenal this weekend.

Goals from Kadidiatou Diani and Melchie Dumornay secured the victory in London. Lyon will now have to follow through on their first leg performance and defeat Arsenal to make their way into the UWCL Final.

Eight-time champions Lyon have not won the top prize in European football since 2022. Despite this, they are the most successful team in the competition’s history and are looking to regain the UWCL title. Dutch star and Lyon midfield mainstay Egurrola spoke to Her Football Hub ahead of their second leg semi-final tie against Arsenal.

Egurrola was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2022. Despite not starting in the final, the 25-year-old described the victory as a ‘dream come true’.

Prompted with how a second title would feel, Egurrola admitted: “I’m really eager to get that trophy back in our hands. The team definitely wants that, and we are working towards it. It would be so special not only for us but for the fans.”

Lyon lessons from the first leg

Goals from the talented duo of Diani and Dumornay were enough to secure the victory over Arsenal in London. But Egurrola knows that Lyon will need more than a 2-1 aggregate to reach the final.

“We know what we did wrong in that game and we have focused on it, but we also know what we did right,” she reflected ahead of the clash. “We’ve been working hard and are still working this week on those things. I can’t discuss tactics too much, but hopefully we have a better game and an even better result in the next match against Arsenal.”

Damaris Egurrola of Olympique Lyonnais finishes warming up prior to the UWCL Quarterfinals match against FC Bayern München in March 2025. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Language isn’t a stumbling block

Lyon have more than 15 different nationalities within their star-studded squad. That’s all with Australian coach Joe Montemurro admittedly not having the best French speaking skills.

“It’s purely my fault. I struggle to find the confidence to get up and speak in French and make mistakes,” the former Arsenal coach claimed in a recent interview.

Egurrola, however, insists the team do communicate in French.

“I can speak five languages currently, I’m only missing Brazilian-Portuguese for Tarciane now. We communicate in French as a team on the pitch. That being said, if it’s directed at someone who speaks English on the pitch, it’s easier to speak English. Everyone has good French.”

When do Lyon and Arsenal play?

Embed from Getty Images

Lyon will play Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Groupama Stadium in France on Sunday, 27th April. Tickets can still be purchased for the fixture here, and the game will be shown on DAZN in the UK.

For a list of global broadcasters, you can visit Arsenal’s website here.

Related articles from Her Football Hub: