Wolfsburg wrap up title, Lyon reach final

VfL Wolfsburg clinched their first Frauen  Bundesliga crown to end a run of four successive titles for 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, while fellow UEFA Women's Champions League finalists Olympique Lyonnais reached the French Cup final, but only at the expense of a 40-game winning run.

Wolfsburg knew before kick-off that only a freak set of results could deny them a maiden title and a 4-0 win against SC 07 Bad Neuenahr ensured they did it in style. Potsdam were already out of contention but secure a consolation as three-time European champions 1. FFC Frankfurt, who began the day in second, suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of FC Bayern München meaning a 2-0 win at bottom side FSV Gütersloh 2009 listed Turbine into Germany's other UEFA Women's Champions League place.

In front of nearly 6,000 fans at the VfL Wolfsburg Arena, Martina Müller struck twice and there were goals too from Nadine Kessler and Conny Pohlers, who had previously won the title with Frankfurt and Potsdam. Ralf Kellermann's side did not have it all their own way, though, as striker Alexandra Popp was taken to hospital with an injury to her right foot.

"This is the biggest day Wolfsburg's women's football has ever seen," said Kellermann. "For us, it was important to finish with a positive result going into the two finals we have left. This is a wonderful feeling. We played a great match and reached the goals we set ourselves. On the whole, we wanted to finish with the best attack and keep a clean sheet once more. That will give us confidence for the next weeks."

Next Sunday, Wolfsburg aim to complete the double when they face Potsdam in their first German Cup final in Cologne. Four days later, the Wolves travel to London for their UEFA Women's Champions League showpiece against Olympique Lyonnais at Stamford Bridge. Germany coach Silvia Neid acknowledges that Wolfsburg have a very tough task ahead of them.

"If Lyon have a good day, then Wolfsburg are on an equal level. If Lyon have a really good day, it will be extremely difficult," she said. "The French side have a lot of world-class players, but Wolfsburg certainly have a chance."

Holders Lyon, who have already won a seventh straight domestic title, saw a run of 40 games won in 90 minutes ended by Montpellier Hérault SC 1-1 before beating their hosts on penalties to reach the French Cup final against AS Saint-Étienne on 9 June. Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi struck the winning spot kick in an epic 6-5 shoot-out win after Marie-Laure Delie had cancelled out Lotta Schelin's opener in normal time.

Patrice Lair's charges thus remain on course for a record fifth French Cup, a third domestic double (after 2007/08 and 2011/12), and a second straight treble including the UEFA Women's Champions League. It is 76 games since their last reverse, a French Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by FCF Juvisy Essonne in 2011 and it is  118 games, stretching back more than three years, since Lyon lost over 90 minutes.