VfL Wolfsburg's defender, Janou Levels, is poised for the formidable challenge of confronting OL Lyonnes once more in the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals. This fixture marks a significant test for Wolfsburg against the historically dominant eight-time UWCL champions. Levels, who joined Wolfsburg for the 2025/26 season, has become a pivotal figure in their defense, also contributing significantly to their offense with a career-high eight assists. She reflects on the shift in her approach to UWCL matches, moving from an 'underdog' mentality at PSV to a confident stance with Wolfsburg, emphasizing the team's quality and determination to demonstrate their strength. The upcoming match requires astute communication and aggressive defensive play, lessons learned from their prior encounters.
Wolfsburg Prepares for UWCL Showdown Against Lyonnes
In a highly anticipated UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, VfL Wolfsburg is set to host OL Lyonnes at the Volkswagen Arena this evening. Defender Janou Levels, a 25-year-old Dutch international, expressed her enthusiasm and readiness for the encounter against the formidable French side. Since her arrival at Wolfsburg from Bayer Leverkusen nine months ago, Levels has solidified her position in the team’s backline, while also demonstrating significant attacking prowess. Her eight assists across all competitions this season underscore her crucial role. Levels acknowledged the stark contrast in preparation compared to her time at PSV, where her team was considered an underdog. Now, with Wolfsburg, she emphasizes the importance of confidence, ball control, and demonstrating the team's inherent quality. Despite a previous 3-1 loss to Lyon, Levels remains unfazed by the prospect of facing world-class players like Ada Hegerberg and Kadidiatou Diani. She believes that effective communication and a collective, aggressive defensive strategy will be paramount in containing Lyon’s dynamic attack and exploiting their positional changes. Levels highlighted the elevated intensity and physical demands of UWCL matches, noting they surpass even the competitive Frauen Bundesliga. Looking ahead, she also sees this match as a valuable opportunity to refine her understanding of French players' movements, potentially benefiting her performance with the Dutch national team in upcoming World Cup qualifiers against France.
This quarter-final clash offers Wolfsburg a critical opportunity to demonstrate their growth and strategic adjustments since their last encounter with Lyon. For Levels, it’s not just about the match itself, but also about the continuous development and competitive edge gained from playing against Europe's elite. The experience will undoubtedly shape her contributions to both club and country, pushing her to new limits as a defender and an influential player.