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Women's Champions League holders Lyon at risk of quarterfinal exit to Chelsea

Chris Ricco - UEFA / UEFA / Getty

Norwegian international Guro Reiten's first-half goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 win away to holders Lyon in France in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarterfinal tie on Wednesday.

Reiten curled a first-time effort low beyond goalkeeper Christiane Endler just before the half-hour mark for the visitors, a fine finish coming after an outstanding piece of play by Scotland's Erin Cuthbert to create the chance.

The result puts Emma Hayes' Chelsea - runners-up two years ago - in the driving seat as they seek to become the first English winners of the competition since Arsenal in 2007.

Chelsea had already beaten France's other heavyweight, Paris Saint-Germain, home and away in the group stage, yet Lyon's pedigree in Europe is second to none.

They won the title last year for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, and Sonia Bompastor's team will still hope to turn this tie around in next week's return.

The visitors could have been further in front before the interval, with a Lauren James shot coming back off the post.

Yet Lyon had chances too, despite former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg starting on the bench as she recovers from her latest long injury layoff.

Delphine Cascarino hit the woodwork in the second half for Lyon, who have won the Champions League a record eight times overall.

In Wednesday's other game, PSG take on Wolfsburg in Paris.

On Tuesday Barcelona, who won the title in 2021 and were runners-up last season, won 1-0 away to Roma in Italy thanks to a solitary strike from 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo.

Lea Schuller scored the only goal as Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 1-0.

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