Servette Chênois opened their UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage campaign with a heavy 8-0 defeat against Olympique Lyonnais at home, according to match reports. The French club, recognized as the most decorated team in the tournament’s history, established control early by scoring four goals in each half to secure the win.
Match Summary and Goal Breakdown
According to match accounts, the scoring opened in the 8th minute when Servette defender Laia Ballesté inadvertently turned the ball into her own net, giving Lyon a 1-0 advantage. French international Marie-Antoinette Katoto then netted a first-half brace, and forward Melchie Dumornay added a fourth goal just before halftime. Servette failed to register a single shot on target during the opening 45 minutes.
Lyon maintained high offensive pressure after the break. Katoto scored again in the 47th minute, followed by Dumornay in the 54th minute. A second own goal—this time driven by Sobal—further extended Lyon’s lead for the Geneva side, before Inès Benyahia sealed the 8-0 final scoreline with a goal in the 89th minute. Servette will look to rebound in the competition on October 1st, when they travel to face Danish champions HB Köge in their second fixture of the league phase.
Player Reactions and Assessment
Following the final whistle, Servette player Paula Serrano offered a candid assessment of the match to RTS Sport. “They are above everyone,” Serrano stated, acknowledging the caliber of the French side. The 35-year-old Spanish midfielder added, “We knew that Lyon was one of the strongest teams in the world. Clearly, they are above everyone, but it feels good to play against teams like that; it teaches us a lot.”
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Serrano emphasized the collective fighting spirit of the Grenat squad. “We arrived all the way here, it was not easy for us, we fought… and we are going to continue to work because we want to put the name of Servette as high as possible,” she told RTS Sport. Looking ahead to the remainder of the tournament, Serrano noted, “We still have 5 matches to play and for us the objective is to win some points and why not dream a little further…”
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