Lyon Thrashes Saint-Étienne 6-1, Dominating at Iconic Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

In a match played at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, the AS Saint-Étienne women's team faced off against the reigning French champions, Olympique Lyonnais, on April 14. While the scoreline of 6-1 reflects the gulf between the newly promoted Saint-Étienne and the league's dominant force, the match did see a record crowd of over 4,000 fans attend. Despite the heavy defeat, Saint-Étienne managed to score a goal against a Lyon defense that had only conceded nine goals all season. The attendance was almost ten times higher than the last home match against Bordeaux and further highlights the growing interest in women's football in France.

Lyon Dominates Saint-Étienne in Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Extravaganza

In a resounding display of dominance, Olympique Lyonnais crushed AS Saint-Étienne 6-1 at the historic Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday, solidifying their position as the undisputed titans of French women's football.

Despite conceding six goals, Saint-Étienne's performance was far from dismal. The newly promoted side put up a valiant fight, showcasing their resilience and determination. The gulf in experience and quality between the two teams was undeniable, but the home side managed to capitalize on a rare defensive lapse by Lyon to register a consolation goal.

However, the true triumph of the evening lay not in the scoreline but in the unprecedented turnout. A staggering 4,000 spectators packed into the hallowed stadium, eager to witness a historic event. It was the first derby at the "Chaudron" in two and a half years, and the first time the Saint-Étienne women's team had played on the illustrious Geoffroy-Guichard pitch.

The massive crowd was a testament to the growing popularity of women's football in France and the enduring passion for the sport in Saint-Étienne. The attendance surpassed previous fixtures by orders of magnitude, eclipsing the mere 148 fans who had turned up for the match against Dijon.

Despite the heavy defeat, Saint-Étienne remain firmly entrenched in seventh place with four games remaining in the season. They trail sixth-placed Montpellier by a single point but have a crucial match in hand against Paris FC next Saturday.

For Lyon, the victory was a further step towards their pursuit of an unprecedented double. Sonia Bompastor's squad now boasts a nine-point lead over Paris Saint-Germain in the D1 Arkema standings and is poised to secure their 17th league title. With the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals against PSG looming on the horizon, their sights are firmly set on European glory.

As the 2022-23 season draws to a close, the match at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will be remembered not only for its lopsided scoreline but also for its significance as a milestone in the evolution of women's football in France. The impressive turnout and the spirited performance by Saint-Étienne demonstrated that the sport is attracting a growing legion of fans and that the future of the women's game is exceedingly bright.