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Dominated by the champions of Spain, the Lyonnais resisted the assaults in this round of 16 first leg of the Champions League played this February 19th. Anthony Lopes put the big game in his cage and OL conceded the draw (0-0). The Gones will have to perform a feat at Camp Nou on March 13 to qualify.
Lyon is still undefeated in this 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League season. We feared the worst for the men of Bruno Génésio, who hosted FC Barcelona Tuesday, February 19. Visitors, who dictate their law in Spain, are declared candidates for final victory. And they came to the capital of Gaul with serious ambitions. But the wall Lyon has not succumbed to the thrashing (0-0).
Terrier finds the bar
Barça coach Ernesto Valverde has decided to line up the heavy artillery at Groupama Stadium with his offensive trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembélé (59 goals and 30 assists in their three since beginning of the season). The coach Lyon, he had to do without his captain and world champion Nabil Fekir, suspended. Bruno Génésio also surprised by opting for Martin Terrier in his organization instead of Maxwel Cornet. A configuration that did not prevent the OL to light the first wicks.
It was first the hope Houssem Aouar who warmed the gloves of Marc-André ter Stegen in the 5th minute. Groupama Stadium almost burst with joy shortly after thanks to Terrier. The former Strasbourg, 25 meters from the Barcelona cage, shot a huge shot. Ter Stegen relaxed and deflected the missile onto his helm. He came close to Lyon. The rest of the match ended with a Blaugrana defense attack in the OL camp, with rare incursions from Les Gones.
Lopes impassable
Dominating, the Barça player put his foot on the ball and forced the Lyonnais to play in defense. Ousmane Dembélé provoked a lot, without much success. Luis Suarez was rough and Lionel Messi, elusive, gave cold sweats to his opponents and fans of the OL. But when the frame did not shirk, it is Anthony Lopes who repulsed the attempts. The Portuguese was imperial in the second half, when Barcelona increased the pressure and multiplied the attempts. After frustrating Suarez (74th), Lopes fought the heavy shot of Philippe Coutinho (76th) and out of the frame a new cannonball Sergio Busquets who was spinning in his nets (86th). Big Lopes, in short.
Even rough, even ineffective, Barça dominated (59% possession, 25 shots on goal only 5 shots) but did not win. Lyon has played with his weapons and is still in the race, but the trend does not lend to optimism. With this draw conceded at home, OL is forced to score at the Camp Nou return match to at least hope to qualify for the quarterfinals (unless it must go through the penalty shootout?). Knowing that at home, FC Barcelona is almost intractable (only one defeat this season, in Liga against Betis Sevilla) and has never remained silent. Mission impossible for Olympique Lyonnais, really? After all, on September 19, the Gones went out to win against Manchester City when no one was waiting for them ... On March 13, it will take a feat of the same kind.