Les Parisiennes fall to defeat against Les Lyonnaises

With the support of the Ultras, driven by the prospect of a clash at the top of French football, our Parisiennes had a mountain to climb on Sunday evening. Because it was against their biggest rivals in the form of Lyon, the current league leaders and newly crowned European champions, that Les Parisiennes were looking to overcome…

For the occasion, Bernard Mendy audaciously attempted to change Les Rouge et Bleu's system, starting with a 3-5-2, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani leading the line.

Unfortunately, our Parisiennes didn't even have a chance to breathe before the Lyon press was already suffocating the defence... After just three minutes, Selma Bacha played Macario into the box, and the latter found the opener for Les Fenottes (0-1, 3'). Far from being beaten, the players from the capital doubled down and looked to get back on level terms, and their efforts quickly paid off with a series of clear-cut chances, but each were dealt with by Endler (15', 17', 21'). The home side were going to need to take advantage of their period of domination! But our Parisiennes didn't manage to find the back of the net before the break...

During the second half, they never stopped believing. Lively duels, dangerous chances and an appearance off of the bench from Sandy Baltimore to look to create new chances: all the ingredients were there in order to turn the match around. And after Malard hit the post (80'), the final minutes of the encounter were frenetic, with Les Franciliennes giving every last ounce of themselves in the battle... However, without Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who was forced off through injury, it proved just a step too far. 

An evening to forget for our Parisiennes, who fell to defeat on what will now be their final evening as current French champions... With an 8-point lead, Les Lyonnaises took advantage of this victory to secure the D1 Arkema title.