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VAR Denies Chelsea’s Penalty Appeals in 0-0 Draw

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 3:03 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Chelsea Holds Lyon

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
VAR overturned two penalty appeals for Chelsea, including a late challenge on Lauren James.
Salma Paralluelo’s effort was disallowed for offside, ending Lyon’s 20-game Champions League scoring run.
Sonia Bompastor returned as Chelsea coach to face her former club Lyon.
Katie McCabe missed the match because of illness.

History

Bompastor Makes History

Bompastor became the first person to win the Women’s Champions League as both player and head coach.
Abily won five Champions Leagues as a player and three as Lyon assistant before joining Chelsea in 2024.
Malard says Bompastor recruited her to Lyon at 14, without whom she would not be at Chelsea.

History

Historical Context

In 2011, Olympique Lyonnais captured their inaugural UEFA Women’s Champions League title, beginning a decade-long dominance in European football. Lyon secured eight finals appearances by 2023, winning seven trophies and amassing a €120 million revenue surge, highlighted by Ada Hegerberg’s 45 goals, according to UEFA reports. Chelsea’s 2024 encounter with Lyon mirrors that historic rivalry, as coach Sonia Bompastor, a former Lyon star, now leads Chelsea against her old club. The match underscores how Lyon’s early supremacy continues to shape coaching careers and competitive balance across Europe’s women’s clubs.

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Chelsea Holds Lyon

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
VAR overturned two penalty appeals for Chelsea, including a late challenge on Lauren James.
Salma Paralluelo’s effort was disallowed for offside, ending Lyon’s 20-game Champions League scoring run.
Sonia Bompastor returned as Chelsea coach to face her former club Lyon.
Katie McCabe missed the match because of illness.

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