Matildas star Ellie Carpenter is out for redemption as she plays for third Champions League title
Ellie Carpenter’s last Champions League final led to one of the toughest moments in the Matildas’ defender’s career, but she won’t be thinking about that at all this time around.
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Last time Ellie Carpenter lined up for a UEFA Women’s Champions League final she was stretchered off the field, her ACL ruptured - the 24-year-old is burying those memories as deep as she can ahead of Sunday’s final against Barcelona.
The Matildas defender and key part of French side Lyon’s starting line-up is expected to play a crucial role in the side’s fight to lift the biggest prize in European football.
Carpenter has lifted the trophy twice before – for her first she was new to Lyon and didn’t get a run on the pitch.
Then in 2022, just 20 minutes into the first half Carpenter fell to the ground. She tried to play on but was stretchered off the field. Lyon went on to defeat Barcelona 3-1.
Carpenter hobbled onto the field after the match on crutches, her knee in a brace to help the side celebrate.
While Carpenter said the injury and the nine-month rehab that followed helped reignite her passion and take her game to a new level, it is something she obviously doesn’t want to repeat.
Especially with the Olympics just months away.
“All I want to do is stay on there longer than (20) minutes,” Carpenter said.
“That’s the goal. I’m very excited and it’s like third time lucky. Hopefully I can get out there this weekend and play like I have been this season, not think too much of it and just get through the game.”
While not feeling the nerves yet Carpenter knows they will creep in as kick-off gets closer.
“It is probably the biggest or one of the biggest games of my career, biggest game for women’s football and the club as well, it’s a massive game … so I definitely have some nerves,” Carpenter said.
Barcelona and Lyon are longtime Champions League rivals. Barcelona – the reigning champions, come out as underdogs on paper in this clash.
Lyon beat Barcelona in the 2022 final 3-1 and five years ago 4-1.
“They are a world class team, they won it last year,” Carpenter said.
“There is a great rivalry between us, they’re one of the best clubs in the world with the best players in the world on their team.
“But for us we are so experienced in finals and in Champions League finals especially, which I think is really going to help us.
“Just sticking to what we’ve been really good at this season, which is playing with the ball, in transition as well.
“We have one of the fastest front three in the world so hopefully we can utilise them.”
If Lyon are successful it won’t be the only trophy Carpenter has won this season.
The speedy defender helped Lyon finish top of the French League and then win the grand final against PSG 2-1 last weekend.
Carpenter played in 17 games for Lyon this season – keeping 10 clean sheets – the third best record in the league.
The former Western Sydney Wanderers player said she hadn’t had a chance to stop and reflect on what she has achieved in the past year – since the Matildas finished fourth at the World Cup.
“Post World Cup I just wanted to come back and start the season with Lyon and now it’s’ the end of the season – it’s just flashed by,” Carpenter said.
“But I’ve ticked off everything that I wanted to achieve this season, I think I’ve had one of my best seasons in Europe with Lyon – obviously this game (on Sunday) is very important to me as well.
“I think I’ll reflect after that.”
Lyon will take on Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final on Sunday at 2am (AEST).
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