Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Lianne Sanderson believes her old clubs do not have enough to turn around their Women's Champions League semi-finals this weekend.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Lyon at the Emirates last Saturday, with Melchie Dumornay scoring a late winner after Mariona Caldentey had equalised.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were beaten 4-1 away from home by Barcelona, as Sonia Bompastor's quadruple-chasing Blues struggled to go toe-to-toe with the holders.

Lyon have won all nine of their Champions League matches this season, and have a good record against Arsenal, winning five of their last six outings against them in the competition (L1).

In fact, Arsenal have not won any of their last four knockout away matches in the Champions League (D1 L3), failing to score in all three of those defeats.

Sanderson, who came through the youth system at Arsenal, believes that while they still have a chance, given the scoreline, the Gunners will struggle to overcome the eight-time champions.

"Everyone kept saying they'll beat Lyon. I didn't come from that place. I know how good Lyon are, I know how good Barcelona are," Sanderson told Stats Perform. "They're two of the best teams ever. So they're still winning.

"It's 2-1, but I do think the scoreline flattered them a little bit. The first 20 minutes of the game, I felt like Lyon could have been two, three [goals] up.

"Dumornay, [Kadidiatou] Diani, [Tabitha] Chawinga, they were incredible. And the midfield of Lyon, Lindsey Heaps, I think it's the best game I've seen her play.  I don't think the Arsenal midfield could get near Lyon.

"You could say, you know, why were the back line of Arsenal surprised by Dumornay? Well, they weren't surprised. There are some players you just can't mark.

"I think Arsenal are definitely still in it, but it's against them. They're unbeaten, Lyon in this competition this season. They have the quality. And I feel like they always had an answer.

"And Alessia Russo hit the bar, there was a half-chance. There was one that Frida Maanum should have put in the back of the net, and if she wasn't going to put it in the back of the net, Alessia Russo has to call her off. She was in front of goal.

"So, Arsenal are still in it. We have to believe."

Sanderson pointed to a lack of depth in Arsenal's squad as her reasoning for backing Lyon, noting the French side have more quality among their squad.

"I just honestly don't think Arsenal have enough world-class players," she added. "Mariona Caldentey, I think is a top player, world-class. She's done it at Barcelona.

"You look at Caitlin Foord, Katie McCabe, top players, but when I look at world-class, you look at Lyon, you look at Barcelona, they have world-class all over the pitch.

"Wendie Renard wasn't even on the pitch at the weekend. This is the type of strength and depth these teams have, and I don't think Arsenal have it."

Chelsea are closing in on the Women's Super League title in their first season under Bompastor, but they failed to translate their league dominance into last Sunday's first leg against Barca.

The Blues managed just four shots, with two of those on target, compared to 19 attempts for their hosts and nine on target.

Chelsea have lost both of their previous home Champions League matches against Barcelona without scoring a single goal, and could lose in three consecutive seasons at home against them in the semi-finals, after doing so in 2022-23 (0-1) and 2023-24 (0-2).

"On the other end, Chelsea-Barcelona, I think that one's done," Sanderson said.

"I think Chelsea will score. I think they can score, but I just don't think they can stop Barcelona from scoring. It's 4-1 already [if] Barcelona score first, that's 5-1.

"And I mean, [Aitana] Bonmati, [Alexia] Putellas, [Salma] Paralluelo didn't even have their best game at the weekend.

"I think there's a lot of emphasis on Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze because it's against their former side. But what you see from these teams, they are individually brilliant and, as a team, they are brilliant.

"Mapi Leon was back at the weekend. She had a brilliant game. They're all like cogs in an engine. Claudia Pina comes off the bench, like [Ewa] Pajor scores, and Pina comes off the bench and scores two goals. They just have the quality, and I just don't think Chelsea, for whatever reason, it's almost like a psychological thing.

"Whenever Chelsea play against Barcelona, it's like they can't get it over the line. In the final a few years ago, same thing; it was over in 20 minutes, 3-0 down.

"Semi-final last year, people can get wrapped up on Kadeisha Buchanan. It should not have been a second yellow, let's be honest, but that wasn't the reason why Chelsea lost that game.

"Caroline Graham Hansen, we haven't even spoken about her. She didn't even have her best game at the weekend, and they still beat Chelsea 4-1. So it's at Stamford Bridge, there is 20,000 tickets sold, I hope they continue to sell more, but I just think they won't, I just don't think they can stop Barcelona from scoring, and that's the biggest concern."