2019-20 UEFA Women's Champions League

Lore & Background

Lyon entered the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League as defending champions, having won the previous four editions. The competition was postponed indefinitely on 17 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final, originally scheduled for 24 May 2020 at the Generali Arena in Vienna, was postponed on 23 March 2020. On 17 June 2020, UEFA announced that the remaining matches (quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final) would be played between 21 and 30 August at San Mamés, Bilbao and Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián in Basque Country, Spain, as an eight-team single-match knockout tournament. The final was held at Anoeta Stadium, where Lyon defeated VfL Wolfsburg 3–1. For the first time, the video assistant referee (VAR) system was used in the competition, implemented in the final.

In Their Own Story

The air in Barcelona was thick with tension as the clock ticked past the 90th minute. The roar of the crowd seemed to shake the very foundations of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, but inside the Lyon dressing room, there was a quiet, steely resolve. Wendie Renard looked at her teammates, knowing that history waited just beyond the next few minutes. When the breakthrough finally came, it wasn't just a goal; it was the sound of a dynasty being forged in fire, silencing the home crowd and etching Lyon's name into the annals of football forever.

Reader's Guide

The 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League was the 19th edition of the European women's club football championship organised by UEFA, and the 11th edition since being rebranded as the UEFA Women's Champions League. A record 62 teams from 50 UEFA member associations entered. The competition featured a qualifying round (mini-tournaments), a round of 32 and round of 16 played as home-and-away two-legged ties, and a final stage (quarter-finals, semi-finals, final) originally scheduled as two-legged ties but later changed to single-leg matches due to the pandemic. The final was played as a single match. Lyon were the defending champions and successfully defended their title.

Did You Know?

• Lyon defeated VfL Wolfsburg 3–1 in the final, not Barcelona.
• The final was played on 30 August 2020, not in May.
• The final was held at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián, not at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
• The match ended in regular time; no extra time was needed.
• The video assistant referee (VAR) system was used for the first time in the competition, only in the final.

Construction and Origins

Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas first unveiled plans for a new sixty-thousand-seat venue on September 1, 2008. Located in Décines-Charpieu, the project was tentatively named OL Land and intended to cover fifty hectares with extensive sporting facilities alongside hotels and commercial offices. Although approved by various government bodies in October 2008, significant delays occurred due to slow administrative procedures and political opposition. Critics argued the €180 million public funding investment was financially and ecologically unsound for taxpayers. Despite these hurdles, landscaping began in 2012, allowing actual construction to commence during the summer of 2013. The facility ultimately replaced the Stade de Gerland as the club's home in January 2016, marking a new era for the region.

Prestigious International Football Events

The venue quickly established itself as a premier location for major international tournaments following its completion. In November 2009, it was selected as one of twelve stadiums for UEFA Euro 2016, hosting six matches including the semi-final where Portugal defeated Wales. Its reputation grew further when it was chosen to stage the final and semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Additionally, the ground hosted the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final and served as a venue for football during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, accommodating eleven matches across men’s and women’s competitions. This consistent selection highlights its status as one of France's most significant sporting arenas.

Club Milestones and Attendance Records

Olympique Lyonnais inaugurated the stadium on January 9, 2016, with a decisive four-one victory against Troyes in Ligue 1. Alexandre Lacazette scored the historic first goal at the ground during this fixture. Since then, attendance figures have reached remarkable heights within both domestic and European competitions. The record league attendance stands at fifty-eight thousand two hundred fifty-seven spectators, recorded during a match against Paris Saint-Germain on November 9, 2025. Similarly, the highest European crowd was achieved in April 2025 against Manchester United with over fifty-eight thousand fans present. These figures demonstrate the strong support base for the club within this modern facility compared to their previous home at Stade de Gerland.

Multi-Sport Versatility and Other Uses

Beyond football, the stadium has proven highly versatile for various other sporting disciplines and entertainment events. It hosted the finals of rugby union’s European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in 2016, and was later selected as a venue for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Notably, on December 30, 2016, the grounds hosted a unique outdoor Ligue Magnus ice hockey fixture between Lyon and Grenoble. This match set a national record with twenty-five thousand one hundred forty-two attendees when Grenoble won five to two. The venue also accommodated the France versus England Six Nations match in March 2024 due to unavailability at Stade de France. Furthermore, the grounds have hosted musical concerts, solidifying its role as a multi-purpose entertainment hub in Lyon.