Why this was Chelsea's most mature away display in Europe

Ever since her Chelsea side made their debut in the competition in 2015, Emma Hayes has spoken of a need to build up extensive experience in the Women's Champions League in order to truly challenge for the top prize, and on Wednesday it felt as though those eight years of development are now paying off.

That's because, at the home of the defending champions, Chelsea produced their most mature away performance in the competition to date to beat holders Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final.

The English side were patient, calm under pressure and clinical through Guro Reiten's curling, first-time finish for the game's only goal.

This was an efficient Chelsea, a street-wise Chelsea, and an accomplished team sending out a significant statement to all of their European rivals and illustrated their credentials as genuine Women’s Champions League title contenders.

Their 1-0 lead is a slender one, and Lyon, European women's football's dominant side for more than a decade, must not be underestimated for the second leg at Stamford. However, Chelsea have a truly priceless advantage.

"I don't want to underestimate how hard it is to come here in a quarter-final," said Emma Hayes, of her side's win in front of an 18,751 crowd at the Groupama Stadium, which staged the 2019 Women's World Cup final.

"It's intimidating and I think we managed that really well. Pressure situations are moments that reveal your character, your wisdom, knowledge and experience. I felt the team delivered those characteristics under pressure.

"If you build consistency into your habits then every day is a Champions League day. We have become accustomed to the competition and we played with a wise head tonight."

A two-legged semi-final against either Roma or the competition favourites, Barcelona, awaits in the next round if Emma Hayes' team can now avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge on Thursday 30th March. The ultimate prize, Saturday 3rd June’s final in Eindhoven and the dream of being the first British club to win a women’s European title since 2007, is now a step closer, albeit the French side - the most successful team in this competition’s history with a record eight titles - will undoubtedly raise their game in the reverse leg.

Key to Chelsea's composure in midfield was a display of all-round excellence from Scotland's Erin Cuthbert, about whom Hayes said: "She had only been back in team training since Monday [after a hamstring strain] but we all know she has the heart of a lion."

Cuthbert's fine assist for Norway winger Reiten's goal summed up Cuthbert's best traits all in one move. She won the ball with a strong tackle, nutmegged Lyon's Damaris Egurrola and then rolled a perfectly-weighted, 'no-look' pass into the path of Reiten, who bent her shot into the corner. Chelsea's players, staff and a small band of travelling fans roared with delight.

The scoreline could actually have been even better for Chelsea, who hit the post through England's confident young star Lauren James, and who saw Sam Kerr fired wide from a big chance in the second half, while Lyon struck the woodwork through Delphine Cascarino and applied pressure on Hayes' side late on.

The only note of concern for Chelsea was a possible knee suffered in the first half by England centre-back Millie Bright, who hobbled off in discomfort after twice receiving treatment on the pitch. That could also be a worry for the Lionesses, who host Brazil and Australia in friendlies in April, as their World Cup preparations continue. Hayes said that Bright would be assessed with a scan on Thursday.

However, Bright appeared calm when discussing what she described as a "niggle" in the mixed zone, with the centre-back saying: "I'll have to get assessed and we'll go from there. It's just a niggle in my knee, we don't know the ins and outs yet, so we'll have to see.

It was just after I cleared the ball, and then I was trying to get the ref's attention to go down when I knew I couldn't continue, but you have to put the team first in that situation and make sure there are 11 fit players on the pitch."

Match details

Lyon (4-3-3): Endler 6; Carpenter 6, Gilles 5, Renard 6, Morroni 6 (Bacha 7, 55); Horan 7, Egurrola 6, Marozsan 7 (Van de Donk 6, 55); Cascarino 7 (Malard 7, 69), Le Sommer 6 (Becho 7, 46), Dabritz 6 (Majri 7, 69)
Subs not used: Belhadj (gk), Hegerberg, Sombath, Cayman, Bruun, Benyahia
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Berger 7; Perisset 7 (Mjelde 6, 85), Buchanan 6, Bright 6 (Eriksson 6, 44), Carter 6; Leupolz 7, Ingle 7; James 8 (Rytting Kaneryd6, 85), Cuthbert 8 (Charles 6, 71), Reiten 7; Kerr 7
Booked: Ingle, Cuthbert
Goal: Reiten 28.
Subs not used: Musovic (gk), Orman (gk), Fleming, Abdullina, Cankovic
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
Attendance: 18,751